We were greeted with some cool weather to start HKIR week, however with some good horses to photograph any thoughts of being cold were soon cast aside. Most of the visiting horses completed some fairly leisurely work this morning. They’ll have some sterner exercise later in the week, as they settle in. Prince of Arran was the only horse to get beyond a canter as he galloped on the turf.

Prince Of Arran

This is Prince Of Arran’s second visit to Hong Kong, having finished mid pack in last years Vase, after going back from a wide draw. He brings good form here, having won the Geelong Cup two starts back and was a close runner-up in the Melbourne Cup last month (after crossing the line in third place he was promoted by the stewards).

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He tactically was adaptable in his races in Melbourne, being able to settle on the speed if necessary. He’ll be looking for some luck from the barrier gods this time as there does not appear to be a lot of speed in this race.

He galloped 1200m in 1m 19.0s (27.8, 28.2, 23.0) under work rider Natasha Eaton, who has accompanied the gelding on his frequent overseas ventures. Eaton said: “This is his third year of travelling and he loves it. He barely lost any weight on the journey from Melbourne and seems to be getting stronger all the time. He’ll work again later in the week and I’m convinced that he will finish closer than last year when he finished eighth but nothing went right for him then.”

True Self

Another horse who brings good from from Melbourne is True Self. She was second to Prince Of Arran in the Geelong Cup and won the Queen Elizabeth Stakes on the final day of the Flemington Carnival for trainer Willie Mullins. Like many of his horses she has spent some time over the fences and is a winner as a hurdler.

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Today she was on the dirt course. David Casey, exercise rider and assistant to trainer Willie Mullins said: “We just had a steady hack for a circuit, then cantered a circuit, just speeding up for a couple of furlongs. I’ve been with her since she was in Australia and we’ve been over here a week now. She went very well down there – she ran a very good second in the Geelong Cup and then won the Queen Elizabeth. I’d say this will be another step up on Sunday but she seems well and doesn’t seem to mind the travelling too much. She might do a quicker bit on Tuesday, but we’ll just see how she is.”

Danon Smash

Danon Smash is one of two overseas visitors taking on the home contingent in the Sprint. He’s a multiple G3 winner and has been thereabouts in Japan’s G1 sprints this season including a third in the Sprinters Stakes. On that bare form he’d need to lift to be a winning chance, but still appears to have some upside, so a good showing would not surprise. His sire, Lord Kanaloa, was a two time winner of the Sprint.

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Today he warmed up in the quarantine trotting ring before cantering one lap around the all-weather track. Exercise rider Keiichiro Yasuda said: “Today we worked on getting him to relax in his new environment. We will have to see if he likes Hong Kong as much as his father, Lord Kanaloa, did but he is getting more relaxed day by day and seems to be doing well.”

Indy Champ

He is Japan’s standout miler this year, winning the G1 Yasuda Kinen (defeating Almond Eye) and G1 Mile Championship, just as Maurice did before winning this race in 2015. With Beauty Generation now looking vulnerable, he is a solid chance of taking the Mile on Sunday.

A good pace and a firm track will be to his liking. Today he warmed up in the quarantine trotting ring before jogging one lap around the dirt track this morning. Exercise rider Kenichi Shono said: “We gave him a bit of work yesterday, doing two furlongs in 15 seconds each. He moved well again this morning during his jog, he is relaxed and eating well.”

Lucky Lilac

This filly won her first four career starts but was no match for Almond Eye when placed in first two fillies’ classics in 2018; but hit new peak with a last start win in G1 QEII Cup at Kyoto, the race Snow Fairy won before she went on to win the Cup in 2010.

She also warmed up in the quarantine trotting ring before cantering one lap around the all-weather track. Exercise rider Eishu Maruuchi said: “Once she got used to the all-weather course, she relaxed into what she was doing. She has settled into her environment quite well.”

As always thanks to the HKJC team for quotes from connections