I love this meeting, getting to photograph top class race horses as they prepare for the big races on Sunday. Some travel well, while others struggle to adapt. Others will improve over the week and put their best hoof forward come Sunday. Over the week I aim to feature as many of the internationals and locals as is possible.

Most of the International horses arrived here over the last few days and were put through light work on the Dirt track. However three of the Japanese contenders galloped on the turf.

Kiseki 

Kiseki may be a doubtful runner, having arrived in Hong Kong with an unreported case of ring worm. He will be monitored over the coming days, before a decision is made on whether he runs Sunday.

That said, he looked well as he galloped this morning. The son of Rulership, won the Kikuka Sho (Japanese St Leger) at his last start and has built an impressive record in his short career (4 wins from 8 career starts). Two three year olds have won the Vase in the last ten years (the last being Highland Reel), so their record looks good.

He worked worked 800m on the turf in 54.1s (30.0, 24.1). Assistant trainer Norihiko Kishimoto said: “He is looser now than when he first arrived here and is looking fitter. I did not ask him for a strong canter today but the time might be faster than planned.”

Satono Aladdin

This is his third visit to HKIR, having previously run in both the Cup (2015) and the Mile a year later. This time he again takes on the Mile and he’ll be hoping to go better than his previous visits, where he has failed to flatter (11th in 2015 and 7th a year later).

He won the Yasuda Kinen (G1 1600m) in June and followed that with a second in the Mainichi Okan (1800m) to Reel Steel. Two runs since have seen him run down the field (although one on a bog track in the Autumn Tenno Sho). He has always looked the part in previous visits to Hong Kong, and today was no exception.

Working 800m on the turf in 51.4s (24.7, 24.0), he looked as good as he has previously. Rider Joji Yamamoto said: “He has settled in to the new surroundings in the past few days, so we worked him on turf this morning to get ready for a gallop on Thursday.  I hope he will improve his condition into Sunday.”

Smart Layer

On her second visit to Hong Kong this smart mare runs in the Cup, after finishing fifth in the Vase last year. She won the Kyoto Daishoten (2400m) in October, defeating Tosen Basil who runs in the Vase. Since then she has run 6th in the Queen Elizabeth II Cup over 2200m. Smart Layer has the services of Yutaka Take on Sunday, a bonus for any horse.

Trainer Ryuji Okubo said: “She had a strong canter this morning on the turf course. She is doing really well. She was off her feed just after she first arrived but the next day she was back to normal. She will post her fast work on Thursday with Yutaka Take aboard.” She worked 800m in 57.8s (31.4, 26.4).

Tiberian

Tiberian comes to the Vase off an unlucky Melbourne Cup run, in which he was posted wide for much of the trip. This season he boasts two victories over Breeders Cup turf winner, Talismanic, both over the 2400m of the Vase. Those were both on rain affected ground, and Talismanic does seem to prefer a firm track.

The earliest of the international shippers to arrive last week (alongside fellow Melbourne Cup runner Max Dynamite), Tiberian was asked to extend by work rider Emmanuel Cardon over the closing half a lap of the all-weather track, coming home in 25.6s for the last 400 metres. Trainer Alain Couetil said: “He got a feel of the grass on Saturday and he will work on the turf tomorrow (Tuesday).”

Max Dynamite

I’ve seen plenty of Max Dynamite, after his two Melbourne visits. The Vase looks a tall ask for him, but he looks well. He’s as “fit as a flea” as his trainer Willie Mullins like to say.

“He’s in great order and was feeling good this morning. He’s travelled up well from Melbourne,” said David Casey, assistant to trainer Willie Mullins, who rode the horse this morning.

Raceday jockey Glyn Schofield was on hand to watch the work: “He looks well and I’m very happy to be on him. He’s in with a chance on his Melbourne Cup run. When the ride looked like it would become available, I simply rang up and asked the question. I did briefly meet the connections in Melbourne and I’m delighted to be given the chance to ride him,” Schofield said, who boasts one win from just three previous HKIR rides. That was aboard Natural Blitz in the 2005 Hong Kong Sprint.

 

Danehill Kodiac

He had an easy morning on the Dirt track. Travelling head lad Tony Gorman said: “He’s travelled here super, and he was very fresh this morning. He’ll do some more serious work on the grass later in the week when the boss (Richard Hannon) is here, but he’s very fit already. The owners arrive in Hong Kong over the next couple of days. You’ll know when they’re here – they’re a very enthusiastic lot!”

He won his first stakes race this year, the Cumberland Lodge stakes (G3) @ 2392m, following that with a third at Newbury in the St. Simon Stakes (G3) over 2400m. The Vase is a big step up in class for him, but he’s progressive.

Robin Of Navan

He was a G1 winner as a two year old, taking the Criterium Saint-Cloud back in 2015. This year he has won the G3 La Coupe, defeating fellow Cup runner Garlingari. Since that win it has been a mixed bag for him. He’ll run close to the speed or can lead.

His work today was a light canter on the dirt and a look at the Sha Tin parade ring, where he was schooled.

Trainer Harry Dunlop’s wife Christina who regularly accompanies Robin Of Navan on his overseas trips – all five of the UK-trained colt’s wins have been in France – said: “All his previous foreign travel so far has been by lorry but he’s taken this flight brilliantly and has been neighing happily since. He’ll do some more serious work when Harry is here later this week.”

Eagle Way

The 2016 Queensland Derby winner, has been under a cloud recently, with an infection in his lungs. He’s likely to be going into the Vase a run short of where trainer John Moore would like him to be.

Today he took to the main Dirt track for a canter under raceday rider Tommy Berry. Trainer John Moore said: “He’s heading the right way after the lung issue a few weeks ago.”