Hong Kong Vase (HK-G1) prospect SIMONAS (Ire) (Sternkoenig) kept German
trainer Andreas Wohler happy after completing a strong work over the Sha Tin
turf on Thursday. The gray five-year-old galloped out his final quarter in
:22.3.
“He’s in good form, seems very well and that was a nice piece of
work this morning,” Wohler said. “His jockey (Kieren Fallon) has a lot of confidence in him and
I hope he’s right. I think that if he can reproduce the form that he showed in
Canada (when second in the Canadian International [Can-G1]), he’ll
have a chance.”
Trainer David Oughton reported local Vase contender ROOSEVELT (Danehill)
in great shape ahead of a second tilt at the race in which he finished fourth in
last year.
“He’s had a much better prep than last year when he I only managed to get one
run into him as he had only been in Hong Kong for two months,” Oughton said. “He
came back from last year’s race with a leg injury but is fine now.
“He ran over a mile last time as there no races of this distance in the build
up to the International meeting but it really sharpened him up. Michael Kinane
rode him on Tuesday and was very happy. I think you’ll see a better performance
than last year.”
PHOENIX REACH (Ire) (Alhaarth), hero of last year’s Canadian International
and a solid sixth in the Japan Cup (Jpn-G1) most recently, looked very well
under jockey Martin Dwyer as he worked on the turf
Thursday.
“He felt very good,” Dwyer said. “I am sure he could have finished a bit
closer in the Japan Cup if he has settled better early on. He is a fresh horse
and has not had a hard season. He has come to himself now and I have a lot of
faith in him.”
Phoenix Reach started the work at the 1400-meter marker and built up his speed, doing
the last quarter in :24.1. Dwyer was very happy with way he went.
“I suppose there is a worry that there won’t be much pace on in which case
the tactics will be to remain handy on him,” Dwyer said. “He is not the type that I would want
to lead on.”
Multiple Group 3 winner SIGHTS ON GOLD (Indian Ridge) did some work on the dirt
along with stablemates FIREBREAK (Charnwood Forest [Ire]) and ANCIENT WORLD
(Spinning World), who are going in the Hong Kong Mile (HK-G1) and Hong Kong Cup
(HK-G1), respectively. Sam Avis said Sights on Gold is
the kind of horse that can race prominently.
“Frankie (Dettori) is such a good judge of pace that it won’t matter to him
if they go slowly or go fast,” Avis said. “It will be down to the horse and I know that he is
well and in good form. All three of our horses will have a bit of a pipe opener
(on Friday).”
Suffering from a case of travel sickness, SENEX (Pelder) was declared prior
to Thursday’s barrier draw.