Not a lot of activity at the track this morning, with a little over 24 hours to go until the big races. However the two visitors did have a canter around, to stretch their legs and get out of their quarantine barns. I’ll also take a look at the two G1 races on the card and see how they might pan out.

Helene Paragon

Just cantered a lap of the dirt track, with his work rider. Trainer John Moore said: “He’s really impressed me in his work this week. If he bounces back, he’s right amongst it.”

You’d have to agree, he’s right in the mix if he’s right, bit the if is a big one. It would be great to see him run well, as it would add much to the race if he does.

Convey

As with Helene Paragon, just cantered a lap of the dirt track and looked very relaxed doing so. He’s been calm all week and has not  been phased by anything. He looks well and should run to his best. Rider Kevin Bradshaw said: “He just rolled around and did his thing in his usual relaxed way. He’s well.”

Stormy Antarctic

Another who had an easy canter around the dirt track before going back to the parade paddock for schooling. Trainer Ed Walker said: “He had a solid gallop yesterday but looks to have come through it really well. He’s bright and on his toes this morning.”

He’s definitely improved his demeanour throughput the week as he has become accustomed to his surroundings. To see him run a bold race would not surprise.

Champions Mile

While we’re looking at some of the runners in the Mile, let’s see if we can work out how this will be run and won. It doesn’t look overly complicated on paper (famous last words). There is no pace in the race – similar to the APQEII last week.

The speed map provided by the HKJC looks to have nailed it fairly well. The trick here for Prebble on Contentment, will be judging the pace correctly. He went too slow on The United States in the APQEII last week, enabling Moreira to move on Neorealism. Here he needs to be going quick enough to discourage such a move, and slow enough to conserve energy for the finish.

Rapper Dragon has proved adaptable tactically and given the pace scenario, will not want to be far off the lead as he was throughout the 4yo races. Beauty Only has shown that he is able to sprint well off a slow pace perviously, but will need to get going early to ensure he’s not caught out by a sudden increase in pace from the front. He was not able to get past Rapper Dragon at their previous meeting in The Chairmans Trophy, although on that occasion he had to give the 4yo five pounds, but is back at level weights here.

The wild card here is Helene Paragon, a dual G1 winner this season, who has appeared flat at his last couple of starts. Trainer John Moore is hoping he has switched him on again by stepping up his workload recently, after being easy on him for a period. On his gallop on Thursday, you would say he’d turned the corner, but we’ll not know until race day.

The visitors, Convey and Stormy Antarctic, look outclassed on their home form. However they have both appeared well during the week. Stormy Antarctic was a little phased by the new surroundings early in the week but has relaxed more and more as the week has gone on, and rounded off his work with a sound gallop Friday morning under race jockey Karis Teetan. If you fancy him, you’ll get a nice price and will not have to spend big for a decent return.

However I’m not going beyond the obvious here, Rapper Dragon and Beauty Only to be fighting out the finish. Perhaps Rapper Dragon to win and seal Horse of the Year honours.

Chairmans Sprint

With no visitors coming this year, this looks a very similar scenario to The Sprint Cup last month. The pace here will be critical as well and with Aerovelocity succumbing to injury, it would appear that Peniaphobia gets to lead easily enough. Dashing Fellow also likes to lead, but his best trip is 1400m and I don’t expect to see him crossing Peniaphobia. How hard they go into that first turn will determine the outcome of the race.

In The Sprint Cup, Mr Stunning was pulled back to the rear after not jumping as well as expected. He’s proved adaptable tactically in his short career, so I don’t expect to see him back at the rear if he jumps well from barrier four.

Thewizardofoz raced fairly in The Sprint Cup, but has since trialled very well. He’ll get a lovely run jumping from the inside gate. Amazing Kids ran a bottler in this last year and could conceivably won the race with an ounce of luck. He’s been to Dubai recently and that travel has often meant horses running flatly at this time of the year. Not Listenin’tome is another who has been to Dubai, so the travel factor may affect him, although he’s been through it previously and may handle it better than a first timer. He’s trialled well since and could be the blow out (if there is to be one). He is stretched at a strongly run 1200m, so there is plenty against him here.

Lucky Bubbles could have a whole blog of his own. He ran a good second in this race last year, being run down late by the storming Chautauqua and was expected to go on and win a G1 subsequently. Things haven’t panned out his way this season, he ran a string of second placing after winning his seasonal debut in The Premier Bowl and then was relegated to 5th on protest last month in The Sprint Cup. He never looked like running up to the leaders in that and as a result has had Brett Prebble replaced by Hugh Bowman. It’s hard to see him reversing his form in this.

So for me Thewizardofoz, Peniaphobia, Mr Stunning and Not Listenin’tome.

Thanks to the HKJC for quotes and speed maps.