It’s Hong Kong Champions Day on Sunday and I’m really looking forward to seeing the three Group 1 races on the same day this year. International numbers are a little light on again, with four runners spread across the three races (the Champions Mile is an all local affair).

The three runners from Japan all appeared on the turf track this morning – Al Ain (Deep Impact-Dubai Majesty) runs in the QEII, Danburite (Rulership-Tanzanite) also in the QEII and Fine Needle (Admire Moon-Needle Craft) is in the Chairmans Sprint.

DANBURITE

First of the overseas runners on the track was Danburite. The son of 2002 APQEII winner Rulership has won 3 races from 12 career starts and was G1 placed in Satsuki Sho at Nakayama last April. After an allowance race win at Hanshin in December he went on to win in the G2 American Jockey Club Cup (2200m). His latest outing was in the Osaka Hai (2000m), where he finished 6th.

 

Danburite has raced fellow Japanese APQEII runner Al Ain on five occasions, with not a lot separating them on most occasions. Their most recent meeting was in the Osaka Hai, which saw Danburite finish 6th, not far behind Al Ain who was 3rd.

This morning he quickened from the 1200m and clicked up the last 400m, stopping the clock at 1m 17.1s (27.3, 26.4, 23.4). Work rider Shinichiro Kobayashi said: “He has been eating up well after the long trip to Hong Kong. There were no problems with the journey and all has gone well so far. Today was his first time working on the turf course since he arrived. He shied a little but he’s getting relaxed and moved nicely. He’ll work in the trotting ring tomorrow.”

AL AIN

Al Ain is a winner of 4 races from 10 career starts, in fact he won 4 from his first 5. His biggest win came in the G1 Satsuki Sho (first leg of the Japanese Triple Crown), which is run over the 2000m trip of the APQEII. He didn’t place in the final two legs of the Triple Crown. He’s been placed at both starts this season – finishing 2nd in the G2 Kyoto Kinen (2200m) and 3rd in the G1 Osaka Hai (2000m).

This morning he completed an 800m turf gallop in 57.2s (30.6, 26.6).

Work rider Shin Otose said: “Thank you to everyone who has been supporting us. The trip has gone well. He’s settled in well and is relaxing in the new surroundings.”

FINE NEEDLE

Godolphin Japans Fine Needle has started 2018 in fine form, he is unbeaten this year. His first run was in the G3 Silk Stakes (1200m), and he tasted G1 success subsequently in the Takamatsunomiya Kinen (1200m) in a narrow photo from Let’s Go Donki. He is a winner of 8 races in a career that thus far has spanned 25 starts. His first Stakes success came last September in the Centaur Stakes (1200m), so it is fair to say he has improved as he has got older.

He is the first G1 winner for Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum’s Japanese team, so a milestone horse for that operation. Finishing 5th in Takamatsunomiya Kinen was Hong Kong’s Blizzard, so we can get a fair line on his performance from that.

He was given an easy gallop this morning, completing his final 400m in 28.3s. Work rider Yoshinori Unoki said: “I drove him quite strongly towards the end of the gallop to familiarise him with the turf surface. He is in good condition and has been the same as how he is at home. He will work in the trotting ring tomorrow morning and then blow out on Wednesday.”

Thanks to the HKJC team for work quotes and times. You folks rock!