Hong Kong They Said It

Last updated: 12/11/09 8:15 PM

HONG KONG THEY SAID IT

DECEMBER 11, 2009

“He’s maturing with every run and is more laid back now than he used to be. He’s
more of a ‘Zen’ horse now. On his own, he doesn’t show that much, but the work
has been made earlier with his sparring partner, Le Roumois (Muhtathir [GB]), who won at
Deauville yesterday. Vision d’Etat is mentally very well, which is the most
important thing in this kind of challenge.”

—trainer Eric Libaud on
VISION D’ETAT (Chichicastenango), the highest-rated horse in Sunday’s Hong Kong
Cup (HK-G1)

“Very happy with that blow-out. He’s in great order. We took him for another
paddock school as well — practice makes perfect. You have to remember this is
the start of his season, so he may not be totally spot-on for this. With any luck
he will go on to Dubai and then back here and Singapore, like this year, but he
should finish in the first three on Sunday.”

—trainer Luca Cumani on
Cup contender PRESVIS (Sakhee), who had a nice lung-opener on the turf Friday

Ashalanda is just a head away from being unbeaten in four career starts
(Hong Kong Jockey Club)

“She is relaxed off the track but very focused on it, which is what you
want.”

—trainer Alain de
Royer-Dupre on the lightly-raced ASHALANDA (Linamix), who will face older males
in the Cup

“He feels good. Just had an easy time on the grass this morning. I think he
likes the surface. People have asked me about him going right-handed, but I don’t
think it’s a problem, as every piece of work he has had since England has been
going that way.”

—trainer Danny Morton
on Australian Horse of the Year SCENIC BLAST (Scenic [Ire[), a threat in
Sunday’s Hong Kong Sprint (HK-G1)

“He’s doing so well we’re giving him an early feed in the morning, then walking
him for some time before we get him onto the track. He just keeps bouncing. As
for the draw in 14, I’ve told Nick (Hall, his jockey) to ride him the same way as he
has been in Melbourne, and that’s quietly.”

—trainer
Grahame Begg on Sprint contender ALL SILENT (Belong to Me), who is thriving in
Hong Kong

“He’s kicking and squealing on the track. I can’t believe how good he feels.
I’ve been thinking all week about whether I’ll use an old style whip or the
padded whip which is now compulsory at home (in Australia). I’ve decided to go with the padded
whip rather than change for such a big occasion. Once he’s wound up, he doesn’t
need it, but you do have to wake him up when it’s time to go.”

—jockey Nick Hall has
put some thought into his ride aboard All Silent

Apache Cat is a fan favorite in Australia
(Hong Kong Jockey Club)

“He’s in pretty good shape. Interestingly, we weighed him this morning and he
was 538 kilos, which is exactly the same weight as he was on International Day
last year. And when he won five in a row at home he was in the 538 to 540 kilo
weight range every time. He’s put on a couple of kilos in the past few days,
which I think is a very good sign.”

—trainer
Greg Eurell sizes up APACHE CAT (Lion Cavern) in advance of the Sprint

“The horse has been great this week. He is not tucked up, which is a really good
sign for this horse. I’d love him to have been just a little more relaxed, as he
has been a bit hyped-up every morning, but maybe that’s just because he’s
feeling good. Everybody expects he might go too hard on the speed, but he can
come back to the rider. He’s just a naturally fast horse.”

—trainer
Brian Koriner on Sprint threat CALIFORNIA FLAG (Avenue of Flags)

“He’s very well. Had a few hiccups with a temperature when he got here at
first, but
he’s good now. He’ll run well but this is such a strong race, it’s hard to
predict how he’ll fare.”

—Declan
Murphy, representing trainer Wesley Ward, on CANNONBALL’s (Catienus) build-up to
the Sprint

War Artist has upset potential in the Sprint
(Hong Kong Jockey Club)

“I’m happy with that — he’s as ready as I can get him. Maybe it’s to
his advantage that his season started late in mid-July as he’s a fresh horse.
Still, whether he’s good enough in this exalted company, we’ll find out on
Sunday.”

—trainer James Eustace
on Sprint contender WAR ARTIST (Orpen), who posted a very nice work on turf
Friday

“He has arrived very well in Hong Kong, and I was pleased with that piece of
work. I think he has a good chance on Sunday. This has been the plan with him
for some time. I think he will like the track and he is still relatively fresh,
as this is just his fifth start of the year.”

—trainer
Sir Michael Stoute
sounds a note of confidence in SPANISH MOON (El Prado [Ire]) for Sunday’s Hong
Kong Vase (HK-G1)

“He has done very well since yesterday’s piece of work. As usual this morning,
he was squealing and bucking on his way to the all-weather track. He did not do
much — just a slow canter. I very much liked what I saw.”

—trainer Francois
Doumen on his Vase contender, the ex-hurdler KASBAH BLISS (Kahyasi)

Jaguar Mail could sharpen up in first-time blinkers
(Hong Kong Jockey Club)

“This will be the first time he wears blinkers, and we are hoping it will help
him concentrate. His work leading up has been good, and I am happy with his
condition.”

—trainer Noriyuki Hori
on a change of equipment for JAGUAR MAIL (Jungle Pocket) in the Vase

“He did very well. I thought he needed a good piece of work, as (assistant
trainer) Jean-Jacques (Poincelet) told me Cirrus was a bit fresh, and this should
get him to relax a bit.”

—trainer Corine
Barande-Barbe on Vase entrant CIRRUS DES AIGLES (Even Top [Ire]), who is still
eager after 16 races in 2009

“The old horse is flying. He looks terrific. To be honest, it’s a pity the race
wasn’t two years ago. His career was interrupted with EI (the equine influenza
outbreak in Australia in 2007), but he’s been such a good horse. A mile right-handed is perfect, and earlier this campaign, he was
still able to produce one of his career best performances when he won the Theo
Marks S. (Aus-G2) at Rosehill.”

—trainer John O’Shea on
his seven-year-old warrior RACING TO WIN (Encosta de Lago), a contender in
Sunday’s Hong Kong Mile (HK-G1)

Pressing is based in Great Britain but is usually seen scooping up prizes abroad
(Hong Kong Jockey Club)

“He worked well there, with his ears pricked and pointing his toe. He’s a lot
better here this time than last year (when 10th in the Mile). He’s a very colty horse and just got too
worked up, but he’s much more laid back this time. He’s an eight-time Group
winner, so there’s no doubting his class.”

—traveling head lad
Jamie Linwood on the globetrotter PRESSING (Ire) (Soviet Star), who is taking a
second crack at the Mile

“Delighted with the way he worked. He even tried to buck me off down the far
side, which really just shows how well he is.”

—jockey Neil Callan
finds that Pressing is in tip-top shape

“The work has been good, and so is his condition, but he has drawn wider than we
would like (post 12) and it’s a tough assignment in a strong race. He’s being thrown in at
the deep end a bit.”

—Stoute
takes a realistic view of CONFRONT’s (Nayef) Group 1 bow in the Mile

“Both their exercises went well, but Sweet Hearth was a bit stirred up in the
parade ring when she schooled there, so she would need to settle down a bit.”

—de Royer-Dupre on his
two Mile hopefuls, SWEET HEARTH (Touch Gold) and GRIS DE GRIS (Slickly [Fr])