Hong Kong International week has finally arrived (I’ve been counting the days). I’m fortunate enough to be here and will provide daily updates from track work. I’ll focus mainly on images, with a few words on each horse. Over the course of the week I’ll aim to get through all of them, but with a focus on the Australians daily. Thanks to the Hong Kong Jockey Club for times and trainer quotes.

Criterion has been in work for an eternity it seems and has racked up a lot of frequent flyer points. However he continues to look and work well. Craig Williams galloped him over 1200m on the turf track in 1.22.3s (29.3, 29.5, 23.5).

Williams said: “Very happy with him, especially as he was so relaxed compared to the last time he was here in April. He quickened up nicely over the last 200m and he recovered in 30 seconds. Couldn’t be happier with him.”

 

Lucia Valentina was also out on the grass over 1200m in 1:21s (29.0, 28.6, 23.4). Kris Lees is very happy with his mare, although conscious of the task ahead of her. “I was very pleased with her work this morning. She has eaten up well since she arrived and she’s in good order. We understand she has a tough assignment on Sunday but this race has been in the back of my mind for some time and she was back in form last start. This is obviously a rise in class on that (Flemington) win but she was wide that day, carried a big weight and returned the best closing sectionals of any horse in races at a mile (1600m) or further on the day. A shower or two of rain would be a bonus for her.”

Both her and Criterion had a wander around the parade paddock after they galloped.

Japanese sprint contender Straight Girl was also out on the turf breezing over 800m in 56.4s (31.0, 25.4). She will be a strong winning chance in the race she finished third in last year. Kazuo Fujiwara, assistant to trainer Hideaki Fujiwara said: “The last time she worked on the turf at Sha Tin was a year ago, so she was likely to be a little nervous, but it was no problem and we have no concern about her condition.  Jockey Keita Tosaki will give her a gallop on Thursday.” She would be my pick for the race at the moment.

A Shin Hikari is a son of Deep Impact and has a reputation for being a bit of a nut job (there seems to be a long line of them out of Japan). However like many of their eccentric horses he has his fair share of ability. A free running type who doesn’t like to be restrained or headed in his races, was another who fronted up for a grass gallop.

Yoshiyuki Nakamura, travelling head lad to trainer Masanori Sakaguchi, said: “He has settled in better than expected, as I thought he would be tense with the new surroundings, and he has a good appetite.  We took him to the turf course to get him familiarised with it before his gallop, which will be on the turf under jockey Yutaka Take.”

Mikki Isle, also by the super sire Deep Impact, had a very easy gallop on the turf finishing the last 400m in 33.7s. Exercise rider Yusuke Hirai said: “He looks well.  We worked him to acquaint him with the surface before the gallop on Thursday.  He is eating up well and is very settled.  We are happy with his good condition and hopefully everything will go well until the big day.

Preferment, who will run in the Vase, had a quiet morning on the all weather track, after a grass gallop yesterday. He’s looking relaxed and well.

Highland Reel, who had the better of Preferment in the Cox Plate recently is also a Vase entrant. He also worked easily on the AWT. It’s well recorded that trainer Aiden O’Brien has not had a winner at the International meeting, however Highland Reel seems to be a happy horse and is a hope to put that right.

Hong Kong Cup contender Free Eagle had a very easy time on the AWT. He’s a horse that brings some very good form lines into the Cup and if he has traveled well will be hard to beat.

It was an interesting first day at track work and I’m looking forward to the rest of the week. Stand outs for me today were Criterion and Straight Girl.