Australasia's Hong Kong contingent was active at Sha Tin Tuesday morning, with G1 Longines Hong Kong Cup hopefuls Criterion (NZ) (Sebring {Aus}) and Lucia Valentina (NZ) (Savabeel {Aus}) recording works, while G1 Longines Hong Kong Vase entrant Preferment (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}) went out for a lengthy jog. A globetrotting MG1SW who was third in last year's edition, Criterion set fractions of :29.3, :29.5 and :23.5 before getting the 1200 meters in 1:22.3 over the turf track with regular jockey Craig Williams aboard. The strapping chestnut also schooled in the paddock.
“Very happy with him, especially as he was so relaxed compared to the last time he was here in April,” commented Williams. “He quickened up nicely over the last 200 meters and he recovered in 30 seconds. Couldn't be happier with him.”
The two-time Group 1 winner Lucia Valentina completed a similar piece of work, getting her 1200 meters over the same surface in 1:21 even, before also checking out Sha Tin's paddock. She landed the G2 Matriarch S. at Flemington last time Nov. 7.
“I was very pleased with her work this morning. She has eaten up well since she arrived and she's in good order,” trainer Kris Lees said. “We understand she has a tough assignment on Sunday, but this race has been in the back of my mind for some time and she was back in form last start. This is obviously a rise in class on that [Flemington] win but she was wide that day, carried a big weight and returned the best closing sectionals of any horse in races at a mile [1600m] or further on the day. A shower or two of rain would be a bonus for her.”
Meanwhile G1 Victoria Derby and G1 Turnbull S. hero Preferment stretched his legs with a jog twice around the all-weather track.
“All good, a nice easy morning for him after yesterday's gallop,” said trainer Chris Waller's assistant Joanne Taylor. “[We're] very happy.”
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