Prix Vermeille (Fr-G1) winner SWEET STREAM (Shantou) looked well on the dirt
track Friday prior to Sunday’s Hong Kong Vase (HK-G1) at Sha Tin. The
four-year-old bay miss pleased her connections after a scare earlier this week.
“She was a bit tied-up on Tuesday and that was a worry,” Barry Irwin of Team
Valor said. “But she has come out of it pretty well. She was fresh today and
worked freely.”
Sweet Stream’s best form is on wet tracks, but the quicker going at Sha Tin
does not trouble Irwin.
“For Sweet Stream it’s more the time of the year that’s important rather than
the ground,” he said. “She handles fast going fine, but she really comes into her
own towards the end of the year.”
The possibility of a slowly run Vase is more of a concern, however.
“She will settle towards the rear and is the type that needs to be shoved
along with 1000 meters and 1200 meters to race. I hope there is some pace on.”
In a quiet work morning for Vase contenders, POLISH
SUMMER (Polish Precedent) performed his usual canter on the dirt and SIGHTS ON
GOLD (Indian Ridge) breezed on the turf.
Andrew Balding put the finishing touches to PHOENIX REACH (Ire)’s (Alhaarth)
program. The four-year-old bay did a gentle breeze on the all-weather track and
was then taken for a paddock test, which he passed without a hitch.