Melbourne Cup rematch in HK Vase

Dunaden (right) and Red Cadeaux will try to offer another thrilling finish (Hong Kong Jockey Club)

Dunaden and Red Cadeaux, who crossed the wire about a millimeter apart to
decide the Group 1 Melbourne Cup, take their rivalry to Sha Tin for Sunday’s
$1.8 million Hong Kong Vase. Their rematch provides much-needed intrigue for
this Group 1 test, which had lost its star power through the injury to Snow
Fairy.

This time, of course, the rival European stayers are cutting back from two
miles to about 1 1/2 miles. The shorter trip could prove problematic for the
former handicappers among this caliber of competition.

Dunaden was merely a listed-class performer at this distance in France, and
his class hike to Group level accompanied an increase in distance. Although the
Mikel Delzangles trainee was an impressive winner of the 1 1/2-mile Geelong Cup,
his Group 3 prep for Melbourne, Sunday poses a stiffer challenge. Craig
Williams, who missed the Melbourne Cup-winning ride because of a suspension,
seeks compensation aboard Dunaden here.

Silver Pond was last seen in the Arc (Hong Kong Jockey Club)

The Dunaden/Red Cadeaux rivalry mirrors that of their respective homelands in
the Hong Kong Vase. France and Great Britain have dominated, with the tricolor
winning eight and the Union Jack six.

Both countries have arguably better chances of glory with Group 1 performers
at this distance. Boosting French hopes are Silver Pond, Sarah Lynx and Vadamar,
while Great Britain has Redwood and new recruit Jakkalberry.

Silver Pond will be making his first start for Freddie Head, having been
purchased for €510,000 on the eve of his eighth in
the Group 1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe. Once a classic prospect after capturing
last year’s Group 2 Prix Hocquart, the gray was sidelined for the rest of his
sophomore campaign.

Vadamar would become the first three-year-old colt to plunder the Vase (Hong Kong Jockey Club)

Sarah Lynx reveled in the rain-softened ground at Woodbine to stun the Grade
1 Canadian International, far and away the best performance of her career. The
John Hammond filly failed to duplicate that effort next time in the Grade 1 Japan Cup, checking in a well-beaten 12th, and
hopes to rebound. Sarah Lynx is the only distaffer in the field, but fillies and
mares have racked up four wins and seven placings over the years.

Vadamar is the lone three-year-old attempting
the Vase. The Aga Khan homebred was well regarded enough to attempt the Epsom
Derby, finishing seventh to his compatriot Pour Moi, and his subsequent form
suggests that he’s on the upgrade. Vadamar was third to Reliable Man and Meandre
in the Group 2 Prix Niel, and stepped up to take the Group 2 Prix du Conseil de
Paris last out for Alain de Royer-Dupre.

Redwood tries to go one better in this year’s Vase (Hong Kong Jockey Club)

Redwood, runner-up in last year’s Vase, demands
respect in his return visit. The Juddmonte Farms homebred is taking a similar
route, via Woodbine, but with contrasting results. A year ago, Redwood landed
the Grade 1 Northern Dancer Turf and was third in a three-way photo in the
Canadian International. This fall, the Charlie Hills trainee headed straight to
the Canadian International off a break, and faded to seventh. Redwood is
eligible to do considerably better, if Michael Hills can try to save ground
somehow from post 12.

Godolphin, which sent out Mastery to a
commanding win here last year, calls on Campanologist to play the same role for
the U.A.E. flag. The royally-bred six-year-old has enjoyed his greatest success
on the Continent, where he has collected four Group 1 trophies at this distance.
Campanologist is razor-sharp at present, coming off scores in the Group 1 Preis
von Europa and Group 1 Gran Premio del Jockey Club.

Trailblazer could give Japan its first Vase winner in a decade (Hong Kong Jockey Club)

Trained by the in-form Yasutoshi Ikee, Trailblazer is
well qualified to emulate Stay Gold, who gave Japan its only Vase victory in
2001. Interestingly, Stay Gold was trained by Yasuo Ikee, Yasutoshi’s father,
and was also fourth in the Japan Cup prior to his Hong Kong heroics.

Hong Kong has had trouble defending its home
turf in this affair, but the versatile Thumbs Up could be on the verge of
changing that. The Caspar Fownes veteran has made his mark at the Group 1 level
in seasons past, winning the 2009 Classic Mile and placing in such events as the
Queen Elizabeth II Cup, Hong Kong Derby, Hong Kong Gold Cup, Stewards’ Cup, and
perhaps most significantly, the 2009 Champions & Chater Cup in his first try at
this trip.

Thumbs Up reeled in Cup contenders Irian (center) and Pure Champion (left) (Hong Kong Jockey Club)

Fownes also has Super Satin, the 2010 Hong Kong
Derby winner and QEII third who is trying to recapture his old spark. He was a
reasonable fifth to Thumbs Up in the Jockey Club Cup, hinting that he might be
ready to move forward.

Mighty High took the Hong Kong champion stayer’s
title through his victory in the Champions & Chater Cup, but he grew
increasingly out of sorts during his recent sojourn in Australia. Trainer John
Moore hopes to get him right off his ninth in the Jockey Club Cup.

Mr Medici,
the previous season’s champion stayer, was dethroned with his short-head loss in
the 2011 Champions & Chater. This is his first opportunity to compete over this
trip since then, and he warmed up with a seventh in the Jockey Club Cup.