Top Global Runners Vie in Hong Kong Races

The Longines Hong Kong International Races at Sha Tin racecourse Dec. 11 feature intriguing matchups of defending champions including reigning Longines Breeders' Cup Turf (gr. IT) winner Highland Reel.

The four races, all on the grass, range from the 1,200-meter (about six furlongs) Longines Hong Kong Sprint (HK-I), through to the Longines Hong Kong Vase (HK-I), at 2,400 meters—an unusual distance for the jurisdiction.

This year's edition is dominated by talented locals, an impressive squad from Japan and a clutch of French runners. Representation from England (two entries), Ireland (two runners) and the United States (one horse) has slacked a bit. But Singapore and New Zealand contribute to the international flavor of the year's last major race meeting.

The 2,000-meter Longines Hong Kong Cup (HK-I), the race that provided the initial impetus for the event, features returning winners from both the 2014 and 2015 editions—A Shin Hikari and Designs On Rome—and the winner of the 2015 Longines Hong Kong Mile, Maurice. All have question marks by their names.

A Shin Hikari, a 5-year-old Japanese son of Deep Impact, was the world's top-rated horse earlier in the year after winning the Prix d'Ispahan (Fr-I) by 10 lengths. In subsequent starts at Royal Ascot and back in Japan, however, he turned in exceptionally dull efforts, finshing sixth and 12th. When A Shin Hikari is at his best, he normally blasts right to the lead and plays "can you catch me," a strategy that will be aided by his No. 1 gate draw.

"Very good draw," said trainer Masanori Sakaguchi. "Actually, four to five was my ideal. He is in very good form and I am happy with his gallop this morning… I think his big opponent will be the other Japanese horses.  I just wish he could set the pace and lead the field until the finish."

Designs On Rome was named Hong Kong Horse of the Year after his 2014 win but has visited the winner's enclosure only twice since then and only once in a pattern event. The 6-year-old, Irish-bred gelding by Holy Roman Emperor finished last of nine in the local prep for this race.

Maurice, a 5-year-old by Screen Hero, has been in much better form. The 2015 Japanese Horse of the Year exits a victory in the Tenno Sho (Autumn) (Jpn-I) in late October. But most of his work has been at shorter distances. Jockey Ryan Moore will have to work out a trip from gate 8 in a race that features a short run to the first turn.

Among the others in the Cup, Elliptique represents France after winning a group I event in Italy in his last start; Queen's Ring and Lovely Day are group I winners in their native Japan; and Secret Weapon was a surprise winner in the local tuneup.

The purse for the Cup is HK$25 million, or about US$3.2 million.

In the Mile, the expected throng of Hong Kong fans will be watching and many of them rooting for 2014 winner Able Friend. The 7-year-old Shamardal gelding finished third behind Maurice in last year's Mile and then was sidelined with a tendon injury. With that healed, he quickly sustained another injury in a freak barn accident when returned to training and conditioner John Moore admits to being a race short with him but is hopeful after a recent barrier trial and some impressive track work on recent mornings at Sha Tin.

The task was not made any easier when Able Friend drew the outside post in a field of 14 for Sunday's race. The mile is contested with a long run down the backstretch and seldom is won on the front end, so jockey Joao Moreira, known locally as "Magic Man,” will have time to sort things out for a run once the field negotiates the turn.

Failing that, the race seems wide open, with several runners having shown top-level ability on occasion but none with consistency. Neorealism defeated Maurice and others in the Sapporo Kinen (Jpn-II) in August and was third in the Mile Championship (Jpn-I) at Kyoto in his last start and Moore retains the ride on the 5-year-old son of Neo Universe. Logotype is a group I winner from Japan. Cougar Mountain, recently eighth in the ultra-tough Breeders' Cup Mile (gr. IT) at Santa Anita Park, looks for a breakthrough for trainer Aidan O'Brien and his jockey son, Donnacha O'Brien, who at age 18 will be the youngest rider to compete in the HKIR.

Two of the best American milers—Tepin and Miss Temple City—were candidates for this race but both bowed out and Miss Temple City instead scored a narrow victory in the $300,000 Matriarch (gr. IT) at Del Mar on Dec. 4. Either would have been well supported at Sha Tin.

The 14 starters in the Mile compete for a purse of HK$23 million, or about $US3 million.

The Sprint field includes the day's sole U.S. runner—Pure Sensation. The 5-year-old Zensational gelding most recently was third in the Nov. 5 Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (gr. IT) but appeared during track work at Sha Tin to have difficulty handling unfamiliar right-handed turns. He also was reported to be responding well to treatment for a bruised left hind foot but did not keep his track work appointment Thursday morning.

Hong Kong runners have emerged victorious in 12 of the 17 runnings of Sprint and five of the top-rated horses in this edition are locals. They include last year's winner, Peniaphobia, and the 2014 winner, Aerovelocity. They drew No. 1 and No. 2, respectively, and likely will be involved in a quick pace through the early stages of the 1,200-meter dash.

Aerovelocity's trainer, Paul O'Sullivan, said before getting the first half of his wish at the draw ceremony in the Sha Tin parade ring, "He's going to have to draw a gate and things are going to have to go right."

Japan has a powerful contingent in the Sprint, including Red Falx, a 5-year-old son of Swept Overboard who comes off a breakthrough victory in the Sprinters Stakes (Jpn-I) at Nakayama in October, and Big Arthur, who misfired in that race but won the Takamatsunomiya Kinen (Jpn-I) earlier in the year.

Australia also has claims in the Sprint in Rebel Dane, recent winner of the Manikato Stakes (Aus-I) at Mooney Valley and Takedown, winner of the Winterbottom Stakes (Aus-I) at Ascot in Perth who is returning on two weeks' rest.

Takedown's trainer, Gary Moore, scion of a pre-eminent Hong Kong jockey and trainer family, said he is confident against this field. "I expect him to win on Sunday and show everyone that our stable (horses) are serious players," Moore said. "If he does, then it will be right up there as one of the great moments of my career."

The Sprint is worth HK$18.5 million, or about US$2.4 million.

The international card starts with the Vase and that race appears to be all about globetrotting Highland Reel. The 4-year-old Galileo colt came from just off the pace to defeat Flintshire   in this race last year and subsequently won the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes (Eng-I) at Ascot and the Breeders' Cup Turf. He also finished second to Postponed in the Juddmonte International (Eng-I) at York and to second to Found in the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (Fr-I) at Chantilly.

Ryan Moore will ride Highland Reel for trainer Aidan O'Brien and traveling head lad Pat Keating said after Thursday's gallop that work rider Davy Bergen "is very happy with him. And that goes for me, too."

The rest of the field, reflecting the local runners' unfamiliarity with the 2,400-meter distance, is the day's most international. Silverwave, One Foot in Heaven, and Garlingari represent France, the latter trained by Corine Barande-Barbe, who brought Cirrus Des Aigles to the HKIR seven times and is attempting to nuse along Garlingari to similar old-age success. Benzini comes from New Zealand, Quechua from Singapore, Big Orange from England and Satono Crown, Nuovo Record, and Smart Layer from Japan.

They all chase a purse of HK$16.5 million, or about US$2.1 million.