LONGINES Hong Kong Cup
Calif – FR
Worked on dirt and clocked 55.7s (29.6s and 26.1s) over 800m.
Joint-trainer Yann Lerner said: “The horse is in magnificent shape, and has been better with every passing day. All the lights are green and now we just have to hope he gets a good trip through the race and can show his best.”
Liberty Island – JPN
Worked easily over the all-weather track.
The stable representative Yuya Katayama said, “I look forward to tomorrow as she is in very good condition and is ready. I hope she will show her run and will be competitive against all the high-class local and overseas horses.”
Spirit Dancer – GB
Worked on dirt and clocked 1.36.4 (34.1s, 32.4s and 29.9s) over 1200m.
Trainer Richard Fahey: “I genuinely thought his last run was the best of his life. John Murphy rides him out at home and he said he’s the best he’s ever been.”
The Foxes – GB
Worked on dirt and clocked 1.00.8 (31.9s and 28.9s) over 800m.
Trainer’s wife Anna Lisa Balding: “He’s quite a straightforward horse to travel. He’s in good form. Hopefully on Sunday he’ll show us what he’s really like. He looks really well.”
LONGINES Hong Kong Mile
Docklands – GB
Worked on turf and clocked 1.33.7 (32.5s, 31.4s and 29.8s) over 1200m.
Trainer Harry Eustace: “The Mile is probably the deepest race of the four international races because there’s not an absolute standout. On ratings we’re right in amongst it. We need to improve a little bit but he’s very consistent. Dropping back to a mile will be a big positive as well.”
Lazzat – FR
Worked on turf and clocked 32.5s over 400m.
Jerome Reynier said: “Obviously I would have loved to keep him unbeaten last time out but he’d done really well all year. It’s a bonus to be here on Sunday and we’ve got the odds stacked against us, as not many three-year-olds make it, while Falbrav was the last European winner of the Hong Kong Mile.
“It won’t be easy for him but he ticks a lot of boxes and I’m very happy with the way he is right now.”
Soul Rush – JPN
Cantered over the all-weather track and went to the paddock for schooling.
Trainer Yasutoshi Ikee said,”All has gone well. He was moving nicely and flexible after he had a gallop on Thursday. He settled in very well when he stretched out his legs over the all-weather and in the paddock this morning. I think he has prepared well for tomorrow.”
LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint
Lugal – JPN
Worked on dirt and clocked 27.3s over 400m.
“He got keener today as he has completed the breeze. He is in racing mode now. We passed the inspection this morning so it’s just the race tomorrow. The race favourite seems very strong but Lugal is a Group 1 winner. I believe he is competitive and we came here to win,” Haruki Sugiyama said.
LONGINES Hong Kong Vase
Dubai Honour – GB
Worked on dirt and clocked 1.01.3 (32.1s and 29.2s) over 800m.
Assistant trainer Maureen Haggas: “He’s getting a bit older and he won in France over a mile and a half earlier in the year. He seemed to stay the trip really well and enjoy it. It just looks as though it’s better for him now.”
Giavellotto – GB
Worked on dirt an clocked 1.36.4 (34.1s, 32.4s and 29.9s) over 1200m.
Trainer Marco Botti: “He’s still relatively lightly raced this year and he’s been kept fresh, so we made the decision to take our chance in Hong Kong. He’s in good form. He’s always run well abroad and that gives us confidence.”
Iresine – FR
Cantered one lap on all-weather track.
“He worked on Thursday in a way that confirmed my thinking and I was extremely happy with his action and with the way he handled himself,” said his trainer and the man who has ridden him every morning, Jean-Pierre Gauvin.
“I waited quite a way behind the leader so he would have room to accelerate as I wanted and although I didn’t necessarily envisage going past the other one, it was good for his morale to overtake him.
“He hacked on Friday and today was just a gentle canter. He’s ready.”
Stellenbosch – JPN
Cantered one lap on all-weather track.
“She is in good form and moves really smoothly. Ready for the race. I am looking forward to it,” Sakae Kunieda said.
