Longines HKIR Have Open Feel

Nearly every year, each of the four events that comprise the Longines Hong Kong International Races has a decided favorite, whether it be a local or a highly regarded visitor. When the fields were drawn Thursday for Sunday's main events, it became abundantly clear that this year's HKIR are competitive and wide open, giving punters the world over plenty of directions to turn.

Three of the four defending champions from 2014 are back looking for more, but even Able Friend (Aus) (Shamardal), so imperious in smacking his rivals around in the G1 Longines Hong Kong Mile last December, is anything but a sure thing. His shock defeat last time out at the hands of 36-1 Beauty Flame (Ire) (Footstepsinthesand {GB}) in the G2 Jockey Club Mile only hammered home the fact that races are not run on paper, and trainer John Moore–who will saddle 10 of the day's 55 entrants–is impressed by the depth of talent that has descended on Hong Kong for the week.

“Overall, the Jockey Club has attracted some really talented horses this year, which makes our job much tougher, but that's what the event is all about,” he said. “We want to see the best horses to really fully test our Hong Kong horses and see that our best are equal to world class on the day. That's what it's all about.”

Designs on Rome (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) provided Moore with an HKIR double last year, just outgaming his one-time stablemate Military Attack (Ire) (Oratorio {Ire}) in the G1 Longines Hong Kong Cup, but that 5-year-old underwent surgery on both front fetlock joints and will have just his second run of the year in his title defense.

“Designs On Rome galloped [Thursday] morning and he had a good blow,” Moore commented. “We know he's all heart and he'll be running hard until he hits the line.” But, he cautioned, “There's always going to be that doubt second race up.” Click for the HKJC race form guide.

Japan's Cup?

With the stalls set up right in front of the Sha Tin grandstand, the run into the first turn for the Hong Kong Cup is reasonably short, putting a decided premium on a good draw. Staphanos (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), one of three in the race for his sire and one of six on the program, returns to Hong Kong for the first time since belying odds of 17-1 to finish two lengths' second to Blazing Speed (GB) (Dylan Thomas {Ire}) in the G1 Audemars Piguet Queen Elizabeth II Cup over this course and distance in April. Exiting a longshot third in the G1 Tenno Sho (Autumn), Staphanos saw his task turn slightly tougher when he was assigned post 11 in the field of 14.

“We may have to think about our strategy now or simply let our jockey ride him as he sees fit,” said assistant trainer Kazuo Fujiwara of the 4-year-old, who typically settled midpack.

In contrast to that one's style, his compatriot A Shin Hikari (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) prefers to strut his stuff from the head of affairs. Able to use that front-running prowess to best Satono Aladdin (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) in the G2 Mainichi Okan Oct. 11, he went too hard in the Tenno Sho and faded to be a well-backed ninth. The gray, who quickened up well down the straight Thursday drew just to the outside of Staphanos, and his track rider Tomoyasu Sakaguchi said, “there is no option but to lead from the draw.”

Chief Protagonists Alongside One Another in Mile

Able Friend will attempt to give Hong Kong-based horses their 10th consecutive victory in the Mile and will be favored to do so, despite his aforementioned loss to Beauty Flame in the JC Mile 22 days ago. As the strapping chestnut did last year en route to his 4 1/4-length romp, he has drawn post 10 for this attempt.

“I'm not worried about the draw with Able Friend. He's the type of horse who gets back in any case and I can ride my own race on him from there,” his jockey Joao Moreira said.

Maurice (Jpn) (Screen Hero {Jpn}), winner of five straight and widely regarded as the best chance to cause an upset in the Mile, will eyeball Able Friend to his outside in gate 11. Hat Trick (Jpn) (Sunday Silence) is the last non-Hong Kong horse to take out the Mile back in 2005. Maurice exits a victory in the G1 Mile Championship, the same event used as a springboard to his Hong Kong success by Hat Trick.

In contrast to the Cup, the horses in the Mile have the better part of 900 meters to slot in and get a spot, making the draw somewhat less relevant. Mondialiste (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who finished with a flourish to win the GI Woodbine Mile this past September and came with a similarly stinging late rally to finish runner-up to Tepin (Bernstein) in the GI Breeders' Cup Mile Oct. 31, drew gate 13, but the result was of little concern to his connections.

“It (gate 13) really doesn't have a big effect (on us). We're going to be taking our time anyway. From out there with a long run into the turn we can make our own trip, hopefully.”

Take Your Pick in the Sprint

If the G1 Longines Hong Kong Sprint were a sporting event between two teams, the line would very likely read 'pick-em.' A case can easily be made for half of the 14 rivals, but the shortest of the four races and another abbreviated run into the bend could wreak havoc on those with double-digit draws.

That fact applies to horse no more than it does Peniaphobia (Ire) (Dandy Man {Ire}), the 2014 Sprint runner-up who was saddled with the riverside gate in 14. He has Joao Moreira calling at the controls, but a similar scenario from gate 11 last time in the G2 Jockey Club Sprint saw the 4-year-old ridden for pace. He set fast fractions and held grimly deep into the final 100 meters before being overtaken by Gold-Fun (Ire) (Le Vie Dei Colori {GB}). The 'Magic Man' has his own ideas on what sort of trip he'd like to sit this time around.

“I will ride the horse however I'm instructed to do but I would think it might be best to ride him a bit quieter, looking for some cover, from that gate,” the Brazilian explained.

There is no Lord Kanaloa (Jpn) (King Kamehameha {Jpn}) among the trio of Japanese short-trackers signed on, each of whom drew in double digits.

“There were only two options left. It could not be helped,” said assistant trainer Kazuo Fujiwara of G1 Sprinters' S. winner Straight Girl (Jpn) (Fuji Kiseki {Jpn}). “She always breaks well from the gate and, at least, we have no concern about being boxed in.”

Americans Satisfied With Post Positions

The connections of both American-bred sprinters were at peace with the results of Thursday's draw.

Trainer Wesley Ward arrived in Hong Kong late Wednesday and made his first appearance at Sha Tin to oversee the return to the track of Green Mask (Mizzen Mast). The 4-year-old has been under something of a minor injury cloud after appearing a bit lame the day after zipping 800 meters in :47.3. The conditioner shed some light on the situation.

“He trains in glue-on shoes and he went quicker than I wanted him to go on a pretty firm track,” Ward explained. “Sometimes that glue bruises their inside heel, and that's what happened. He initially came out of the work beautifully, but the next morning, he was a little sore when they pulled him out of the stall. We pulled the shoe off for the last two days and soaked it with hot water and Epsom salts and pulled the soreness out. When I pulled him out first thing [Thursday] morning, he was completely sound. He trained beautifully–I trained him barefoot and I don't see any problems at all. It happens all the time when you train a horse with glue-on shoes. They breeze a little quick and that glue sort of jams into the quarter.”

A few hours later, Ward and his son were the last ones to be assigned their gate for the Sprint, and he pronounced himself happy with the result.

“The 11 is good,” he commented. “He's not a guy with a ton of speed anyways, so he's going to break, sit back there and come with a run.”

Mongolian Saturday (Any Given Saturday), who defeated Green Mask into third in the GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint Oct. 31, drew the four hole. Trainer Ganbat Enebish was not overly disappointed, saying, “We wanted eight or nine. Four is so-so, but it is my owner's lucky number.” Jockey Florent Geroux was decidedly more satisfied. “I think it's a good post,” the Frenchman indicated. “We'll be able to save some ground right off the bat. But with him, I don't think it really matters. He breaks very sharp from the gate and he can do pretty much anything you ask him to do. If no one wants to go, he can take the lead, but if somebody wants to go faster than he, I can just let them go. He's very flexible and I like my post.”

Flintshire Draws Mid-Gate for Vase Repeat

When Juddmonte Farms' representative Ric Wylie stepped up onto the stage to select a gate for 2014 G1 Longines Hong Kong Vase winner Flintshire (GB) (Dansili {GB}), one of the options remaining was something connections could live with, the others significantly more dreadful. Fate was on Wylie's side, however, as he peeled off the sticker to reveal gate eight for this year's GI Sword Dancer Invitational S. winner and G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe runner-up.

“I felt I was under a bit of pressure there, the good gates were disappearing fast, so I was happy to draw the eight post,” Wylie commented.

Dariyan (Fr) (Shamardal), who will try to repeat the feat of his dam, the 2009 Vase heroine Daryakana (Fr) (Selkirk), will load a couple of gates further to the inside in stall six.

“Barrier six is a good draw over the 2400 meters. It gives us plenty of options,” his trainer Alain de Royer-Dupre commented.

Click Here for a free daily subscription to TDN.