Presvis tries Singapore turf ahead of International Cup

Globetrotting PRESVIS (Sakhee) took to the Kranji turf on Wednesday for the

first time since his arrival last Sunday and will look to register his first win

in the Singapore Airlines International Cup (Mal-G1)

at his third attempt. The reigning Dubai Duty Free S. (UAE-G1) winner was a head

second behind Gloria de Campeao (Brz) in 2009, but could do

no better than a midpack fifth, six lengths behind Lizard's Desire last year.

"He had an easy gallop over six (furlongs) on the grass

and I was very happy with that," assistant trainer Charlie Henson said after

watching Presvis cover his final three furlongs in a steady :37 4/5. "I would say

he's about the same as how he was last year and the previous year when he came

for the SIA Cup. It will be canter (on Thursday) and we'll see how he is before

deciding if he needs any more work."

Presvis is exiting a sixth-place run in the April 25 Champions

Mile (HK-G1) and should enjoy the additional distance of this event.

WIGMORE HALL (Ire) (High Chaparral [Ire]), who defeated Presvis in the Jebel Hatta

(UAE-G2) on March 3, has overcome a minor hiccup since he touched down in

Singapore and had his first bit of serious work Wednesday.

"We had a bit of a

scare (when he pulled a shoe on Monday), but he's all good now," said Gillian

Dolman, traveling head lass for trainer Michael Bell. "He was fine, no problem

at all. If anything he was a little fresh after his day off (on Tuesday), but I'm

happy enough with him now. I'm going to put on these overreach boots on him

now -- just to be safe."

Wigmore Hall was 11th last out in the Queen

Elizabeth II Cup (HK-G1) at Sha Tin over the SIA Cup distance in a race which was not

run to suit his style.

CHINCHON (Ire) (Marju) has had just one run this season, a fifth behind

winner Rewilding (Tiger Hill) in the Dubai Sheema Classic (UAE-G1) on March 26,

and did

not exactly have his mind on training Wednesday morning.

"He refused to head out

to the track this morning," said Stephane Laurent Duprey, groom and track rider

to trainer Carlos Laffon-Parias. "He did eventually when someone came along and

led him out, and we just had a nice hack over 1000 meters afterwards. I wished I

had a pony like in the U.S. It's not a great game when you need to coax your

horse to work like that."

Chinchon's most important win came in last year's United Nations S. (G1) at Monmouth Park.

Jockey Glen Boss took Hong Kong Horse of the Year SACRED KINGDOM (Encosta de Lago) for a test drive for the first time Wednesday morning as

the Hong Kong raider attempts to land the KrisFlyer International Sprint

(Mal-G1) for the second time in the

last three years. The 2009 winner has been ridden at home by Brett Prebble, but

when rumors began to fly that connections were looking for a new rider, Boss

stepped in.

The Australian was pleased with what he felt underneath him.

"He's a

loose, free type of horse," Boss said. "He just oozes class. He has plenty of

energy and I will be on him for some fast work. I think he's looking for that.

"What I felt this morning was good. I can't fault him. He was perfect."

Trainer

Ricky Yiu was scheduled to arrive Wednesday from Hong Kong to oversee the

gelding's final preparations. Post positions for both of Sunday's races will be

drawn Thursday.