It’s been a while since I’ve posted, but back on the road again and will post daily while in Hong Kong for the international races over the next two weekends.

There are two groups of horses here at the moment, those running in the Audemars Piguet QE II Cup this Sunday then the others that go around in the Champions Mile and Chairmans Sprint the following weekend. The Japanese dominate the overseas entries for the APQEII with three runners – Nuovo Record, Lovely Day and Satono Crown.

Firstly lets look at the Australian interests.

Chautauqua

He looks well and seems to have settled well, this being his second morning here. He worked the dirt track and did nothing special, really just stretching his legs. It was humid this morning and he sweated freely as you’d expect. I look forward to see him stepping up the tempo over the next few days.

Buffering

The old boy looks really well, much better than he did on his last visit to Hong Kong in December 2014. Coming off a big win in Dubai we can expect to see him run well again this time. Another who had an easy morning on the dirt track with regular rider Melanie Sharpe on board.

Rising Romance

She goes around on Sunday in the APQEII. She’s managed to draw a lovely gate in four (well done to Victoria Carter for that). She worked on the turf this morning, under regular rider Alexandra Slattery, and covered 1200m in 1m 25.1s (31.0, 28.3, 25.8).

Trainer David Hayes was on hand this morning after arriving in Hong Kong yesterday. “She looks great and the guys (staff) tell me she’s settled in really well. I was happy with her this morning and we’re hopeful she can be competitive in a strong race.”

Work rider Alexandra Slattery said: “She’s doing really well and felt great this morning. She’s always very relaxed and it’s a good sign when she shows a bit of spark and she’s been doing just that.”

Bow Creek

The John O’Shea trained horse is entered in the Champions Mile on Sunday week. He had his first venture out of quarantine today, stretching his legs on the all weather track.

Lovely Day

After drawing barrier one, he is the likely favourite for the APQEII. Last season he won the Takarazura Kinen, the Tenno Sho (Autumn) and finished third in the Japan Cup, not beaten far. So he comes to Hong Kong as  horse in good form, with a recent forth in the Osaka Hai being his ‘pipe opener’ for the season.

He looked well this morning galloping on the turf over 800m under exercise rider Joji Yamamoto and clocked 49.6s (26.4, 23.2). Trainer Yasutoshi Ikee said: “It is his second race up after a four-month layoff.  After he ran the (G2) Sankei Osaka Hai, his condition has progressed and he seems to be back to almost the same level as his top form last year.  The track surface at Sha Tin is softer than in Japan, but he grabbed the track and handled it well. The going could be yielding on Sunday because of the rain forecast, but he will handle it.”

If he’s back to his top form, he will be the one to beat.

Satono Crown

Third in the Japan derby last year he is a horse on the way up, with two G2 wins to his name. His work was a little unusual! He warmed up in the trotting ring and, after attempting to take his rider across to the inside rail as he walked and trotted down the home turf straight, he then worked for three furlongs on the grass along the back straight to familiarise with the course. Ended his work at the turn into the home straight as planned.

Nuovo Record

Ran a very good second to A Shin Hikari here in December, this mare looks well placed to run another top race. She has the services of Yutaka Take and looked well in her work this morning. She galloped 800m on turf with him on board in 52.6s (29.5, 23.1). Take said: “She is a very good horse, as I had expected.  She is in good condition and I felt that she is likely to have no issue with the surroundings here.  She is very easy to ride, not complicated at all. She listened to me all the time.  It is my first time riding her but so far I do not have any concern, she is a Group 1 winner, after all. She was well-balanced today and her action was good, so if it is raining on Sunday and the track is softer, I am sure she will handle the surface.  I am hoping for a good performance on Sunday”

Trainer Makoto Saito, who flew into Hong Kong last night and was on hand this morning, said: “I wanted the jockey to get the feel of the horse and the track condition.  I asked him to gallop her to make use of her flexibility but keep her energy until the race, and Take did exactly what I had asked.  He had a good feel of her, so now we will do our best to maintain her good condition until the race.”

Thanks to the HKJC for track work times and connections comments.