Youmzain hopes to snap winless streak in Hong Kong Vase

Youmzain has raced exclusively in Group 1 company for more than three years (Hong Kong Jockey Club)

YOUMZAIN (Sinndar), a three-time runner-up in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe
(Fr-G1), will try to regain the winning thread in Sunday’s $1.8 million Hong
Kong Vase (HK-G1) at Sha Tin. One of the classiest and most consistent horses in
training, the Mick Channon veteran unfortunately finds himself playing the
bridesmaid more often than not, and he is seeking his first victory in nearly 18
months. To break this skid, Youmzain must overcome such strong rivals as SPANISH
MOON (El Prado [Ire]) and Hong Kong Horse of the Year VIVA PATACA (Marju) in the
about 1 1/2-mile contest.

Youmzain endured an even longer winless streak earlier in his career. After
landing the 2006 Grosser Preis von Europa (Ger-G1), he failed to reach the
winner’s circle throughout 2007, although he came close when just missing to
Dylan Thomas (Ire) in that season’s Arc. Youmzain finally broke through with a
score in the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud (Fr-G1) in June 2008, and he rounded out
the season with a gallant second to Zarkava in the Arc.

Spanish Moon was an antepost favorite for the Epsom Derby early in his career (Hong Kong Jockey Club)

Kieren Fallon, who has ridden Youmzain in his last pair, will be back aboard
as he breaks from post 7 Sunday.

Youmzain must find a way to turn the tables on Spanish Moon, who has defeated
him in both of their meetings this season. A Juddmonte Farms homebred trained by
Sir Michael Stoute, Spanish Moon was just nipped in the Dubai Sheema Classic,
and drove to a convincing victory in the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud. Freshened
over the summer, he reappeared with a front-running score in the Prix Foy
(Fr-G2) and was most recently fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1).

Regular partner Ryan Moore took off Spanish Moon in the Breeders’ Cup, wisely
opting to stick with his stablemate Conduit (Ire), but has faith in Spanish
Moon’s chances in Hong Kong.

“He’s a certainty,” Moore said. “I hear he’s traveled well and it looks it — he looks great.
He’ll probably race handy or he could lead. We’ll see.”

Viva Pataca set a course record at this trip in the 2007 Champions & Chater (Hong Kong Jockey Club)

Trainer John Moore opted to put Viva Pataca in the Vase this time around. The
veteran comes off a rather disappointing prep in the November 15 International
Cup Trial (HK-G2) at about 1 1/4 miles, closing for seventh as the two-time
defending champion, but he is eligible to improve on the step-up in trip. Viva
Pataca’s poor post, the far outside 13, does not help his cause.

“Could have been better,” jockey
Darren Beadman said. “Don’t want him too far back, and he needs cover.”

Although Hong Kong’s other hopefuls don’t have the same cache as Viva Pataca,
THUMBS UP (Shinko King) is an improving five-year-old who may not have reached
his peak. The Danny Shum pupil landed the Classic Mile (HK-G1) in February and
has been knocking on the proverbial door ever since, placing in the Hong Kong
Derby (HK-G1), Queen Elizabeth II Cup (HK-G1) and Champions & Chater Cup, where
he went down by a neck to Viva Pataca. Thumbs Up was most recently fourth in the
Cup Trial, and could loom as a sleeper with Brett Prebble in the saddle.

PACKING WINNER (Zabeel) has not been the most dependable sort, but the Peter
Ho trainee has flashed ability on occasion. An upset winner over Viva Pataca in
the 2008 Champions & Chater Cup, he narrowly succumbed to Viva Pataca in the
Hong Kong Gold Cup (HK-G1) in February, and pulled a nearly 160-1 shock in the
Mission Hills Sha Tin Trophy (HK-G3) two back. Packing Winner, who exits a sixth
in the Cup Trial, has tactical speed and could find himself on the early lead
beneath Brett Doyle.

Kasbah Bliss is trained by Francois Doumen, who won major Hong Kong prizes with Jim and Tonic in the late ’90s (Hong Kong Jockey Club)

The Francois Doumen charge has won the past two runnings of the nearly
two-mile Prix Gladiateur (Fr-G3), and he came within a short head of winning the
2 1/2-mile Prix du Cadran (Fr-G1) on October 4. Kasbah Bliss is dropping way
down in trip while going up in class, but his connections are confident.

“You’d better wear a nice tie on Sunday because there could be a photo
opportunity!” jockey Thierry Thulliez told Doumen after guiding Kasbah Bliss
during his Thursday canter.

“He did a nice piece of work at about one mile and a half,” Doumen said. “You
could tell that he was very keen today. Thierry Thulliez was very pleased with his horse. He
found it hard to hold him from halfway on.

“Kasbah can pull a bit when he’s fresh
and on his own. He’s rearing to go and one shouldn’t forget that on Arc day,
when second to Alandi (Galileo [Ire]) in the Prix du Cadran, the final 1,000
meters were faster
than the corresponding section in the Arc (:58.9 versus 1:00.7 sec).”

Daryakana will try to hand the Aga Khan his first win in a marquee race on Hong Kong International Day (Hong Kong Jockey Club)

CIRRUS DES AIGLES (Even Top [Ire]) will be entering the starting gate for the
17th time this season. The Corine Barande-Barbe sophomore has come a long way
since this time last year, when he was still a maiden about to switch to the
all-weather at Cagnes-sur-Mer. Cirrus des Aigles has progressed markedly over
the course of his busy campaign, from placing in a bevy of listed stakes, to
romping in the Grand Prix du Lion D’Angers, to winning the Prix du Prince
d’Orange (Fr-G3), to demolishing the field in the October 18 Prix du Conseil de
Paris (Fr-G2). The hardy bay gelding has earned his way into this Group 1 bow,
where he will break from post 10.

“It should not be too much of a problem,” assistant trainer
Jean-Jacques Poincelet said of the outside draw. “Cirrus des Aigles can do anything,
including leading a race. Jockey Franck Blondel will have plenty of options.”

Black Mamba was fourth in the 2008 Hollywood Turf Cup in her last start versus males (Hong Kong Jockey Club)

“I think he’s better this year than last year, but this is a stronger race,”
Balding admitted. “Need a better gate than last year, though, when he was out
wide (in post 11).”

Balding later learned that Buccellati had drawn post 9.

“That’s marginally better than last year,” the trainer said. “He’ll be all right.”

American Grade 1 heroine BLACK MAMBA (NZ) (Black Minnaloushe) is expected to
make her final start in the Vase. A fixture on the Southern California circuit,
the John Sadler mare has won the past two renewals of the Beverly Hills H. (G2)
and placed in the last three editions of the Yellow Ribbon S. (G1). The
six-year-old wrapped up her North American career with a victory in the October
25 Dowager S. at Keeneland and was subsequently sold for $1.5 million at Fasig-Tipton
Kentucky November. Black Mamba will race in the colors of new owner Siu Pak Kwan
on Sunday.