Europeans adjusting to Hong Kong heat

SAHPRESA (Sahm), who will bid for a third Group 1 score in the Hong

Kong Mile (HK-G1) on Sunday, enjoyed a gallop over the Sha Tin surface Monday.

The five-year-old mare successfully defended her title in the October 2 Sun Chariot S.

(Eng-G1) at Newmarket two back, and comes off a close fourth in the November 21 Mile Championship (Jpn-G1) at Kyoto.

"Look at her -- she bounced over the all-weather like a ping pong ball

today," said her groom, Joel Segouin. "We've come straight from Kyoto, and the

mare is fine. She adapted well in Japan, although the weather was much cooler

there; it was a bit like at Cagnes-sur-mer on the French Riviera in winter. We

had to cover the horses with a blanket on the morning gallops. It is very hot

here now, but I hear that it is going to be cooler in the next few days, which

is good."

Five-year-old PACO BOY (Ire) (Desert Style), the likely favorite for the Hong

Kong Mile, has been adjusting to the hot weather in the Far East. He had

a canter at Sha Tin Monday.

"He's entitled to be a bit warm on a morning like this," traveling head lad

Tony Gorman said. "It's a far cry from he was experiencing at home, but he is

moving nicely. He has been really well since he returned from America."

The Highclere Stud colorbearer, fourth in the November 6 Breeders' Cup Mile

(G1) at chilly Churchill Downs, looks for his first win since taking the

Lockinge S. (Eng-G1) at Newbury on May 15. He is 11-for-23 lifetime.

CIRRUS DES AIGLES (Even Top [Ire]), who faded to fifth in the 2,400-meter Hong

Kong Vase (HK-G1) last year, tries his luck in the 2,000-meter Hong Kong Cup

(HK-G1). The four-year-old gelding captured the Prix Dollar (Fr-G2) on October 2

and was second by a short neck in the Prix du Conseil de Paris (Fr-G2) on

October 17. According to connections, he had an excuse when ninth in the Japan

Cup (Jpn-G1) on November 28.

"He was very unlucky in the Japan Cup," said Jean-Jacques Poincelet,

assistant to trainer Corine Barande-Barbe. "We were drawn wide (18 of 18), and

the horse had to settle in last position. The pace was not strong enough and,

when he finally got going, the race was over. Yet he finished ninth, only beaten

a couple of lengths for the places. He came out of the race very well, and it

made sense to come back here."

Poincelet added that the shorter flight from Japan to Hong Kong will help his

horse's chances this time around.

"Last year, we flew from France, and the long trip had taken its toll on

Cirrus," he explained. "This time, we flew from Japan, which is much easier, as

the horse has had time to get acclimatized."

As for the decision to go in the Cup, he added, "The shorter trip should not

bother him. He can do well over all distances, from 1,600 to 2,400 (meters). He's

also matured again since last winter. He put on about 20 pounds and travels very

well now."

Fresh from victory in the October 16 E.P. Taylor S. (Can-G1) at Woodbine,

REGGANE (GB) (Red Ransom) has been thriving since she arrived in Hong Kong. She

will face males in the Hong Kong Cup.

"Reggane is only four, and she is traveling much better now that she's been

to Canada," said Serge Renee, who takes care of the filly for trainer Alain de

Royer-Dupre. "Arriving over there, she would not have eaten up all her

breakfast. But here! You don't want to bring her meal too late."

De Royer-Dupre will also saddle Melbourne Cup (Aus-G1) hero AMERICAIN

(Dynaformer) for the Hong Kong Vase.

"Americain and her get along well on that front -- both scream if they don't

see their food coming on time and, five minutes after, they are licking their

plate empty," Renee added.

Americain has won five in a row, including the August 22 Prix Kergorlay

(Fr-G2) at Deauville, October 20 Geelong Cup (Aus-G3) at Geelong, and the

November 2 Melbourne Cup.