By Alan Carasso
Though there are just two weeks remaining to the Longines Hong Kong International meeting at Sha Tin, racing over the past weekend has had some bearing on the composition of the fields for two of the four Group 1 events.
Flaxman Holdings' Erupt (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) had been given an entry for the G1 Longines Hong Kong Vase on the strength of his first victory abroad in the GI Canadian International S. at Toronto's Woodbine Racetrack in October, but would first need to have a positive showing in Sunday's G1 Japan Cup, a race in which he was a close sixth as a 3-year-old in 2015. But despite sitting a good trip not far from the pace in Sunday's renewal, Erupt weakened in the stretch to finish 14th and will now not make the trip to Hong Kong.
Takedown (Aus) (Stratum {Aus}), who gave trainer Gary Moore a breakthrough Group 1 success in Australia in last Saturday's G1 Winterbottom S. at Perth's Ascot Racecourse, has received an invitation from the Hong Kong Jockey Club for the G1 Longines Hong Kong Sprint. The 4-year-old, co-owned by Widden Stud, was adding to his productive spring prep which had already included wins in the G2 Premiere S. and G2 Shorts S. at Randwick. Moore's brother, John, will saddle a clutch of runners across the four International races, including G2 Jockey Club Sprint winner Not Listenin'tome (Aus) (Dylan Thomas {Ire}) in the Hong Kong Sprint. Takedown, who replaces G1 King's Stand S. winner Profitable (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) in the lineup, is scheduled to arrive in Hong Kong just after midnight Wednesday.
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