Criterion confirmed for Hong Kong Cup

Trainer David Hayes on Tuesday confirmed that Hong Kong Cup contender

Criterion is fit and well leading into Sunday's race and dismissed any concerns

over a supposed colic attack immediately before his departure from Australia.

"He had colic-like symptoms in his behavior but it wasn't colic. He had a bad

reaction, a colic-like reaction to the tick wash which is compulsory before they

fly. He's the one horse in a thousand to react badly," Hayes said.

The former Hong Kong champion trainer, now based in Victoria, said the tick

treatment was akin to the horse being shampooed.

"He had some blistering and a rash down the spine which is now healing up

well although you can still notice it. It's not absolutely ideal but given a

choice between colic or a rash, you'll take the rash any day," he said.

Hayes, who trained 458 winners in his nine-season stint in Hong Kong from

1995, says the Australian Derby-winning four-year-old is capable of running well

on his debut for the stable after being transferred from David Payne's yard.

"My gut feeling is that the horse will run well. He's physically great apart

from the rash and he seems to be doing well in the stable here. And I was

pleased with his gallop this morning. He did it very easily and his recovery was

great.

"His exhibition gallop at Moonee Valley races, before he left, was very good

and this gallop this morning will be all he needs. That will be his final bit of

work," he said.

Hayes said that Criterion's chance would be greater if the ground happens to

be soft.

"If we get rain, I'll be dancing in the streets. He's very good with some

give. His two Group 1 wins in Sydney earlier in the year came on rain affected

tracks and the ground was just too firm for him last start in the Mackinnon

Stakes.

"This track (Sha Tin) will suit him, be better for him. It won't be as firm

as Flemington, no matter what but I'd still be happy to see some rain," Hayes

said of the horse whose five career wins have come right-handed.

Meanwhile, Farraaj worked on the turf going 1200 meters in 1:24.60, the final

final 400 meters in :23.50, under Andreas Atzeni.

Trainer Roger Varian's assistant Joan Banks said: "He's where we want him to

be right now. He has been a lot more chilled here than he was in Australia. Over

there our other horse (Ambivalent) seemed to wind him up a bit, but here, he's

settled in with Red Cadeaux in his barn and is much more relaxed."

A Group 3 winner on the all-weather in England last season, the five-year-old

is Grade/Group 1-placed in both the U.S. and Australia. He was most recently a

close third in the Mackinnon.

In other Hong Kong International Races news:

Trainer Robert Heathcote believes Australian hopeful Buffering will be fine

to take his place in Sunday's Hong Kong Sprint despite missing work with an

issue with a hoof abscess Tuesday morning.

"I was concerned when we arrived at the stables around 7:30 this morning and

the horse could hardly put his foot down," Heathcote said. "But the farrier was

there in no time and did a brilliant job. He took the shoe off, found the source

of the problem straight away; drained the infected area and the relief for the

horse was almost instantaneous.

"We then gave the hoof a good clean, a good soak and we were walking him

again within half an hour. He should be fine and we might even be able to shoe

him again this afternoon. I suspect he'd be fine to work tomorrow but we might

play it safe and work him Thursday morning. We had planned to gallop him this

morning on the turf but working him later in the week is not a problem. No

drama, I think he'll be fine."

Buffering has won 10 group contests in Australia, including four Group 1s.

Newmarket trainer David Simcock's assistant Ian Russell described Trade Storm

as "bouncing" on Tuesday morning as the Woodbine Mile winner had a routine

canter on the all-weather at Sha Tin in advance of the Hong Kong Mile.

"He's very well and he'll do a piece on the turf later in the week. He seems

to like it here," Simcock said. "He's consistent and always runs his race, and

fully deserved his Group 1 success in Canada. He's a stable favorite, and has a

place in his jockey Jamie Spencer's heart too. It was very emotional when he won

at Woodbine, and it would be great if he could run another big one on Sunday."

The six-year-old was most recently third in the Breeders' Cup Mile at Santa

Anita.

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