Juddmonte Looking for First HKIR Success

For all the far-flung Juddmonte Farms operation has accomplished worldwide, it has yet to visit the winner’s circle at the International Races, but that anomaly stands to be undone in this year’s G1 Longines Hong Kong Vase with two live chances in G1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe and GI Breeders’ Cup Turf runner-up Flintshire (GB) (Dansili {GB}) and the up-and-coming Snow Sky (GB) (Nayef). 

Produced by Winter Silence (GB) (Dansili {GB}), a half-sister to 2003 Vase runner-up Polish Summer (Polish Precedent), the bay colt won Lingfield’s Listed Derby Trial S. May 10 ahead of a fourth to Eagle Top (GB) (Pivotal {GB}) in the G2 King Edward VII S. at Royal Ascot June 20. He broke through with a narrow victory in the G3 Gordon S. at Goodwood July 30 and was runner-up in York’s G2 Great Voltigeur S. Aug. 20 prior to a good third, beaten just over three lengths behind Kingston Hill (GB) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) in the G1 Doncaster St Leger S. Sept. 13. Though he will enter the Vase unraced since that effort and is obviously the less heralded of the two runners, he has the full confidence of his connections. 

“Snow Sky’s preparation has gone well and he is heading to Hong Kong in good form,” commented Lord Grimthorpe, racing manager to Prince Khalid. “[Trainer] Sir Michael [Stoute] kept him ticking over with Hong Kong in mind after the St Leger and has been very pleased with him. His work has been good, and that is why Sir Michael has been keen to go to Hong Kong. He will like the fast ground–he has a good action for that– and I think a strongly run mile and a half will suit him as well as anything.” 

Stoute is a two-time winner at the Internationals, having saddled Gainsborough Farm’s Soviet Line (Soviet Star) to a victory in the 1994 G2 International Bowl–the precursor to the G1 Hong Kong Mile–and Daliapour (Ire) (Sadler’s Wells) in the 2000 Vase. Juddmonte’s Spanish Moon (El Prado {Ire}) and Redwood (GB) (High Chaparral {Ire}) filled the runner-up spot in the Vase in 2009 and 2010, respectively, while Cityscape (GB) (Selkirk) was second in the 2011 Mile.