HKIR Trackside Report: Breakfast(s) With the Stars

HONG KONG — OK, so here's the story. I am a father of three. That's a full-time job. I don't get out much, meaning I don't get the opportunity to see Thoroughbreds in the flesh very often. That's part of the reason that Hong Kong International Races week is a BIG deal for me. For five or six days, I get up close and personal with some of the best horses in the world. The horses are great, so is that wake-me-up-NOW first cup of coffee at 7:15 and there's a fantastic breakfast spread before trackwork. Well, it's still there afterwards as well and that means a second trip upstairs to indulge anew.

Now to the horses. Just four of the international gallopers for Sunday's four main events took to the turf course Wednesday morning. First out, with big-day jockey Zac Purton at the controls, was Japan's Once In a Moon (Jpn) (Admire Moon {Jpn}), expected to be part of the pace in the G1 Sprint and hard to miss in her green polos and headgear with ear muffs. Not long after followed the Sir Michael Stoute-conditioned former South African Smart Call (SAf) (Ideal World), who turned in a strong gallop right against the stands'-side rail. The one-time G1 J&B Met winner tackles 2400m for the first time in the G1 Vase. America's GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint hero Stormy Liberal (Stormy Atlantic) appeared on the track with his lead pony and looked comfortable in an open gallop down the Sha Tin straight with Silvestre de Sousa getting a feel for his mount in the Sprint.

“He looked well to my eye and travelled well within himself,” trainer Peter Miller, who watched the move from California via video, told the HKJC notes team. “It was a good leg stretcher and he handled the ground. The team has been telling me the horse is doing really well and his energy levels are high. We're hoping for a good draw and if he gets that, I think he'll perform well.”

The last of the quartet to take to the grass was Stoute's progressive Poet's Word (GB) (Poet's Voice {GB}), who feels very live in Sunday's richest race, the G1 Cup. He also looked very good, perhaps a bit warm on his neck, and let those on hand know he was feeling AOK with a whinny as he walked back to the quarantine stables inside the cones along the inside rail.

The vast majority of training Wednesday morning took place over the dirt track. The snowy white 7-year-old Smart Layer (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) is another that's hard to miss and she and compatriot Let's Go Donki (Jpn) (King Kamehameha {Jpn}) took a stroll down to the parade ring for a schooling session. Staphanos (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), looking to improve on a third in last year's Cup, made a favorable impression-as usual– his smooth bay coat making for a sharp contrast against his four, bright-white polos.

The five-strong Ballydoyle contingent was headed up by 2015 Vase hero Highland Reel (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), known for getting warm when training, but reasonably cool in his appearance when leaving the track Wednesday. There isn't a whole lot to Roly Poly (War Front), but she appeared a happy animal when skipping over the dirt track, as indeed did War Decree (War Front), who returns to the turf off an unplaced effort when ambitiously spotted in the GI Breeders' Cup Classic last time out.

GI Breeders' Cup Turf winner Talismanic (Medaglia d'Oro) is this week's social media darling (and was so at the Breeders' Cup) courtesy of his baldy white face and he led up Mile longshot Karar (Fr) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), the latter a first HKIR runner for trainer Francis Graffard.

There were a handful of interesting human sightings as well Wednesday morning, including Monty Roberts (yes, that Monty Roberts) and Peter Tighe, co-owner of three-time G1 Cox Plate winner Winx (Aus) (Street Cry {Ire}).

Thursday is traditionally Japanese and John Moore day at trackwork and we'll wrap up that activity in Friday's TDN.