Two past winners of the Hong Kong Vase will now line up for the 2400-meter
contest December 8 following the inclusion of Dunaden in the field of 14.
Trainer Mikel Delzangles’ charge took the spoils in 2011 before losing his
crown to the re-opposing Red Cadeaux in 2012. The top-class seven-year-old was
not among the original selections for the race as his connections had indicated
that they would not decide on a post-Japan Cup target until they had assessed
how the horse ran there. He now heads to Sha Tin after a storming fifth behind
Gentildonna in that Tokyo event last Sunday.
The French raider, winner of the Melbourne Cup in 2011 and the Caulfield Cup
in 2012, had his place in the field confirmed Tuesday when the Sean
Woods-trained Autumn Gold was scratched from the race at the request of the
handler.
“The intention was to run Autumn Gold in the Vase, but I was disappointed
with his run in the trial, so have decided in conjunction with the owners that
we will go down a different path with the horse.”
Autumn Gold’s most recent run brought a below-par 11th in the Jockey Club Cup
on November 17.
“Given the news about Autumn Gold, we are delighted to be able to add a horse
of the quality of Dunaden to the Hong Kong Vase,” said William Nader, Executive
Director of Racing at the Hong Kong Jockey Club. “Dunaden is a three-time Group
1 winner, an international star and a past winner of the Vase, so it is great
that he now has an opportunity to come back and try to reclaim his crown — his
participation further raises the standard of an already high class Hong Kong
International Races day.”
In a separate development, the Richard Gibson-trained Mizani has been
scratched from the Hong Kong Cup after being found to have bled following his
participation in an official barrier trial at Sha Tin on Tuesday.
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