Hong Kong hopefuls put through their paces

A win in the Sprint could see Sacred Kingdom earn a second straight HK champion sprinter title (Hong Kong Jockey Club)

While each of the 10 previous winners of the Hong Kong Sprint (HK-G1) was bred in Australia, only Falvelon, who took the 2000 and 2001 runnings in dramatic style, actually
represented the nation in the race. Horses based in Hong Kong have won the last
seven renewals, including INSPIRATION (Flying Spur) and SACRED KINGDOM (Encosta de Lago), victorious in 2008 and 2007,
respectively, and both part of the field for Sunday’s outstanding 1,200-meter
test.

That domestic dominance looks to be in some jeopardy this weekend given
the strongest group of foreigners ever assembled, including a trio of Aussies
with a combined 13 Group 1 wins to their credit. APACHE CAT (Lion Cavern)
is out to avenge his half-length third in last year’s Sprint. Eight times successful at the highest level, the
seven-year-old won the Schweppes S. (Aus-G2) at Moonee Valley on October 24, but was most
recently fourth to ALL SILENT (Belong to Me) in the Patinack Farm
Classic (Aus-G1) up the Flemington straight on November 7.

“The horse is in great order,” trainer Greg Eurell said. “I’m starting to think he really enjoys it here and, you
know, I prefer him racing right-handed. All Silent is probably the horse to beat. He had our measure at
Flemington, but my horse’s form at Flemington has been a little bit mystifying
in the latter part of his career. It’s a great race on Sunday.”

All Silent and Hall took a spin around the Sha Tin turf (Hong Kong Jockey Club)

All Silent was third to Apache Cat in the Doomben 10,000 (Aus-G1) back in May, but has won his two
starts since, including his three-quarter length success in the Patinack. The bay galloped
on the turf Wednesday, finishing up his final 400 meters in :24.7 beneath
big-day jockey Nicholas Hall.

“I was impressed with him,” Hall said. “I can tell you he
did it very, very comfortably. He looks terrific, he’s very bright and
I’m starting to get excited about Sunday. I know I haven’t been around
as long as many other jockeys, but he is the fastest horse I have
ridden.

“As for the race tempo, I would prefer a good-to-steady speed rather
than a frantic pace. It’s not always the case with a (hold-up) horse
like this that you want a crazy speed because you might then be off the
bit the whole way to stay in touch.”

Laurel Guerreiro will try improve on his HK Sprint run last year (Hong Kong Jockey Club)

“This is a lot stronger field than the King’s Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot.
There are some serious sprinters here but I still think he can win.”

Laurel Guerreiro worked well on the turf, getting a final split in 22.3 in
advance of the Hong Kong Sprint. The five-year-old dark bay will attempt to
improve on his eighth-placing in this event last season.

“The horse is very relaxed, it’s his second time here so we know how to
handle things better,” said groom Masahiro Hiraiwa of the Mitsugu Kon trainee.
“The work was very good and he is in good form.”

Veteran Youmzain will bring five years worth of racing experience into the HK Vase (Hong Kong Jockey Club)

In search of his first win since taking the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud (Fr-G1)
in July 2008, the six-year-old ran a blinder to be second for the third
consecutive year in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (Fr-G1) at Longchamp on
October 4. Youmzain will be the fourth starter at the International meeting for
trainer Mick Channon.

“He was a bit sweaty on this first couple of days here, but that was more his
freshness and just acclimatizing rather than anything to be worried about,” said
Channon, who put his charge through a light gallop Wednesday. “He went well this
morning and I am really pleased with him.

“I would like a decent draw and an
even gallop in the race — I just hope they don’t slow the speed up too much going
into the back straight.”   

The Vase has been kind to members of the fairer sex, with Borgia (Ger)
winning in 1999, Vallee Enchantee scoring in 2003 and Ouija Board (GB) following in 2005. DARYAKANA
(Selkirk) looks to join that collection and become the second
sophomore to take this. A perfect four-for-four in her brief career, she enters
off a 2 1/2-length victory in the October 3 Prix de Royallieu (Fr-G2) at Longchamp.

Spanish Moon visited the stalls on Wednesday (Hong Kong Jockey Club)

SPANISH MOON (El Prado [Ire]), who is notorious in Britain, and was actually
banned, for his issues at the gate, passed a stalls test without incident after
a half-speed workout on the turf Wednesday.

“He only seems to have a problem at home with the stalls as they make every
effort to get him in when he is away,” said Stuart Messenger, traveling head lad
to trainer Sir Michael Stoute. “Unfortunately, at home the authorities won’t let
us use a long tom (whip) to get him into the gates, but if they did he would go
in no trouble.”

The bay five-year-old has had no problems in France, racking up wins in the
Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud (Fr-G1) and Prix Foy (Fr-G2). His most recent start
yielded a respectable fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1), which was the runner’s
first off-the-board placing of 2009.

Hong Kong Derby (HK-G1) runner-up THUMBS UP (Shinko King) had an easy gallop
over the all-weather surface after working on Tuesday.

Ashalanda is going for a historic win in he HK Cup (Hong Kong Jockey Club)

In 2004, a three-year-old named Alexander Goldrun (Gold Away [Ire]) made
history in the Hong Kong Cup (HK-G1) by becoming the first filly to take the 200
meter event. On Sunday, ASHALANDA’s (Linamix) will seek to emulate Alexander
Goldrun while taking on the boys in this year’s edition of the $2.6 million
test.

The gray lass will bring just one loss into the Hong Kong Cup, having
captured her initial two starts, including the Prix de Malleret (Fr-G2) against
fellow sophomore fillies. She just missed by a head next out when traveling to
Italy and trying older runners in the Premio Federico Tesio (Ity-G3). Ashalanda
returned to the winner’s circle prior to this race, recording a short head score
in the Pride S. (Eng-G2) at Newmarket, and will be making just her fifth career
start here.

“Ashalanda might prefer softer ground but she’s very quick and also has
enough stamina to stay a mile and a half,” trainer Royer-Dupre said. “I
think it will be very interesting to follow her in Cup.”

Sweet Hearth held off Goldikova in her previous race (Hong Kong Jockey Club)

SWEET HEARTH (Touch Gold) stamped her ticket to the Hong Kong Mile (HK-G1)
with a short head second to Varenar (Rock of Gilbraltar [Ire]) in the Prix de la
Foret (Fr-G1), and seeks to become the first filly to win the 1,600-meter event
since the great Sunline captured the 2000 running. It should be noted that Sweet
Hearth actually held back-to-back Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1) heroine Goldikova
(Ire) (Anabaa) to third in the Foret.

Jockey Gerald Mosse, who has guided the three-year-old lass to a pair of wins
and placings from five starts this season, was aboard Sweet Hearth Wednesday as
she put in a nice gallop in the turf, recording a final split of :24.8.

“She worked perfectly,” Mosse said. “I was very happy with her.”

Gris de Gris is making his first foray to Hong Kong for the Mile (Hong Kong Jockey Club)

Royer-Dupre also sent out fellow Hong Kong Mile hopeful GRIS DE GRIS (Slickly
[Fr]) for a turf spin on Wednesday. The Group 2 hero posted the final section in
:25.

“Gris De Gris is an improving type of horse and I expect him to fare well
here,” the conditioner commented. “He’s very easy to handle and looked good this
morning. He was willing and happy. He’s pleased us all throughout the season and
is better now on a right-handed track.”

DUFF (Spinning World) was doing well enough on Wednesday to canter on the
all-weather for trainer Edward Lynam. Winner of the Park S. (Eng-G2) and
Concorde S. (Ire-G3) in his past two races, the six-year-old gelding had been
feeling the effects of the journey to Hong Kong.