Breeders' Cup Runners Tackle Locals in Hong Kong

Two Breeders' Cup runners from Ireland, including upset winner Order of Australia, take on a piece of Hong Kong's racing history and a bright hope for its future Dec. 13 in the Longines Hong Kong Mile (G1).

The Mile is part of a four-race group 1 program at Sha Tin Racecourse that effectively winds up an international racing season scrambled by the COVID-19 pandemic—an impact still being felt. Just three days out from the race, jockey Christophe Soumillon failed to clear quarantine and was stood down from his HKIR assignments, including Japan's hope for the Mile, 2019 winner Admire Mars. Ryan Moore picked up the mount.

Admire Mars, Order of Australia, and Romanised comprise a well-qualified raiding party for the Mile.

Admire Mars arrives at Sha Tin off a third-place showing in the Mile Championship (G1) at Hanshin Racecourse Nov. 22. The 4-year-old Daiwa Major colt, his season scrambled by the cancellation of the Dubai World Cup program in March, has not won in three starts since capturing the 2019 Mile. Soumillon was aboard for that win, but Moore is no downgrade in the irons, and trainer Yasuo Tomomichi sounded a warning for rivals.

"He has had two solid runs so far, so we have him set up to peak in Hong Kong," Tomomichi said. "I think he is physically better this year than he was last year when he won."

Order of Australia's most recent start was a massive upset win in the FanDuel Breeders' Cup Mile Presented by PDJF (G1T) at Keeneland, where he led home a 1-2-3 finish for trainer Aidan O'Brien. Pierre-Charles Boudot retains the mount as the 3-year-old Australia colt seeks to cement his place in the roster of Coolmore's globe-trotting winners.

Romanised, a 5-year-old by Holy Roman Emperor, made his mark at the end of 2019, winning the Prix du Haras de Fresnay-le-Buffard Jacques le Marois (G1), but has won only once in 2020.

Hong Kong horses have won the Mile eight of the past 10 years, thanks in no small part to aging warrior Beauty Generation, who might be having his swan song as he seeks a third win in the race.

The 8-year-old gelding, a two-time Hong Kong Horse of the Year, carried all before him in the Mile in 2017 and 2018. He then struggled last season and in this campaign has been eclipsed by local sensation Golden Sixty, the 2020 BMW Hong Kong Derby winner who will be the favorite with local punters to win his first group 1 start in this race.

While Golden Sixty's star rises, Beauty Generation's future hinges on his performance in the Mile. Trainer David Hayes elected to keep the veteran out of the local prep for the Mile and feels he has him as good as can be.

"The guy who rides him, Romain (Clavreul), who has ridden him all his life, says he feels as good as ever, which is really encouraging," Hayes said after Beauty Generation drew stall 3 in a field of 10. "I'm really happy with his level of fitness, and he looks fantastic.

"If he runs competitive, he'll certainly keep racing on. If he disappointed, (retirement) would be considered … But if he's racing well, I can't see any reason why he wouldn't keep going."

The other five Hong Kong milers are not without chances. Ka Ying Star was second to Golden Sixty in two group 2 starts this season. The 2019 Hong Kong Derby runner-up, Waikuku, finished second to Admire Mars last year, just ahead of Beauty Generation in third, and has got the better of Beauty Generation twice since.

The Mile starts on the riverside backstretch at Sha Tin and runs right-handed around one turn for a purse of HK$20 million, or about US$2.58 million.

While the Mile looks competitive, the day's longest race, the 2,400-meter (about 1 1/2-mile) Longines Hong Kong Vase (G1), has reigning Hong Kong Horse of the Year Exultant and Irish raider Mogul as clear choices against five others.

Exultant won this race in 2018 in a bit of an upset as Hong Kong horses seldom contest the distance. He finished third in the 2019 renewal, and trainer Tony Cruz feels a pair of second-place finishes at shorter distances this season have the 6-year-old Teofilo gelding ripe for the challenge.

"I'm very happy with his condition leading up to the race," Cruz said after Exultant galloped Dec. 10 on the course. "He's fit and ready for this race."

O'Brien, who won the Vase in 2015 and again two years later with Highland Reel, this year brings Mogul, a 3-year-old Galileo colt, who exits a disappointing fifth-place showing in the Longines Breeders' Cup Turf (G1T).

In his preceding race, Mogul won the Juddmonte Grand Prix de Paris (G1) against a stellar field. O'Brien said he felt Mogul was victimized by a lack of pace at Keeneland, and the colt could face the same issue at Sha Tin as there is little in the way of early speed among the seven starters.

Among the others in the Vase:

Chefano won over course and distance in May in the Queen Mother Memorial Cup (G3). A 6-year-old gelding by 2001 Arlington Million (G1T) winner Silvano, Chefano finished second to Exultant at the same trip later in the month in the Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup (G1).

Royal Julius represents France, looking to ramp up his already successful international scorecard. The 7-year-old Royal Applause horse was second in the H.H. The Emir's Trophy Presented by Longines (G1) in Doha and victorious in the Bahrain International Trophy in 2019.

The luckless Soumillon is replaced by Vincent Ho on Ho Ho Khan, a capable but outside chance.

The Vase starts in front of the grandstand with a short run to the first turn, then comprises a full circuit of the Sha Tin turf. The purse is HK$20 million.

The day's group 1 events also include the Longines Hong Kong Sprint (G1) at 1,200 meters (about six furlongs) and the Longines Hong Kong Cup (G1) at 2,000 meters (about 1 1/4 miles).