By Alan Carasso
Nuovo Record (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}) is not difficult to pick out at trackwork thanks to her distinctive green headgear, ear muffs and matching polos. The 5-year-old mare is back in Hong Kong this week and despite her strong form, could be the least-preferred of a formidable Japanese trio for Sunday's G1 Audemars Piguet Queen Elizabeth II Cup at Sha Tin.
Runner-up in back-to-back runnings of the QE II at Kyoto, a race restricted to females, the blaze-faced chestnut is no stranger to taking on the males and turned in a highly creditable effort when last seen over the Sha Tin 2000 metres, closing well to complete a Japanese exacta behind tearaway A Shin Hikari (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) in the G1 Longines Hong Kong Cup last December
“Last year when she came out on the turf course for the first time, she was a bit unsure with the new surface of the track,” reported her work rider Kazuyoshi Aita. “She lost a bit of her concentration the first time she started working on turf [Tuesday] morning, too. However, we are happy with her condition and she is in great shape. She is as fit as we had her last December. We have to look after her carefully getting ready for her gallop on Thursday.”
Nuovo Record has one tightener under her belt this season, a slightly subpar sixth behind Ambitious (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) in the G2 Sankei Osaka Hai Apr. 3.
Nuovo Record's compatriots Lovely Day (Jpn) (King Kamehameha {Jpn}) and Satono Crown (Jpn) (Marju {Ire}) figure at or near the top of the QE II market come Sunday.
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