Another Wet Morning at Sha Tin

Rainy weather is not uncommon at this time of the year in Hong Kong. Two years ago, a wet track very likely played a role in the spring internationals, as Variety Club (SAf) (Var) took advantage of the juice in the ground to defeat heavily favored Able Friend (Aus) (Shamardal)–who probably didn't love it that way–in the G1 Champions Mile. Because the Sha Tin course drains magnificently well, a bog is not likely, but the rains came again Friday morning just as the international raiders were preparing to make their way to the track around 9 a.m.

Highland Reel (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) took to the harrowed, but rain-affected all-weather track and, given that he grew up on the Emerald Isle, looked perfectly comfortable in the elements as he zipped around there quite nicely, covering 1200 metres in 1:16.9 with a final quarter in :23.6, albeit on his incorrect lead late. Hard to know what to make of him Sunday. He seems best suited for 2400m even if he's got Grade 1/Group 1 form over the mile and a quarter.

Ertijaal (Aus) (Hard Spun) also didn't seem to mind the torrent, as he breezed up the straight very nicely beneath Douglas Whyte, who has the call Sunday. His composite time for 800m on the grass was :50.2, home in :22.7. Whether he is up to this standard remains a question, but he seems to be doing as well as a horse can be heading into a big race.

If there is a 'class clown' (forgive me) in this year's QE II, it would definitely be Satono Crown (Jpn) (Marju {Ire}). The 4-year-old is no doubt talented, as evidenced by his third to Duramente (Jpn) (King Kamehameha {Jpn}) in last year's G1 Japanese Derby and first-up success in the G2 Kyoto Kinen over soft turf Feb. 14. My friend Andrew Hawkins from South China Morning Post is tipping him to win the race and for that reason alone, I have to consider him. What's clear is that he's got a mind of his own. After displaying some boorish behaviour Thursday, he was back to his cantankerous best in the rain Friday morning, giving exercise rider Tomohiro Takahashi all he could handle. Once he acquiesced, Satono Crown galloped strongly on the turn, but was something other than focused in the lane, having a look around while failing to maintain a straight path. I'm going to take connections at their word that he'll be a different proposition once he's around other horses. That being said, this year's QE II is a race where there is positively zero margin for error.

A day after blowing out up the Sha Tin straight, Lovely Day (Jpn) (King Kamehameha {Jpn}) had the equivalent of a raincoat draped over his hindquarters as he took a tour of the parade ring along with Satono Crown. He also schooled at the gate to the satisfaction of trainer Yasutoshi Ikee. Lovely Day has the one hole in the QE II.

Chautauqua (Aus) (Encosta de Lago {Aus}), the likely favorite for next Sunday's G1 Chairman's Sprint Prize, was given his first searching gallop since his arrival earlier this week. Under the watchful eye of his co-trainer Michael Hawkes, the 5-year-old galloped over 1200 metres and flashed home in :22.4. Tommy Berry will have the call in the Chairman's, Hawkes confirmed Thursday.