By Alan Carasso
On Tuesday and Wednesday morning, daylight broke against overcast skies in the New Territories, but it was a much different scene Thursday morning, as glorious sunshine and cool temperatures greeted the Longines Hong Kong International Races runners.
To begin the day, we need to roll the clocks back another hour or so, as trainer John Moore sent out his HKIR team at around 6 a.m. Able Friend (Aus) (Shamardal), readying for his second start off a couple injury-enforced absences, capped off 1200 metres of work with a final quarter-mile in :23.3 while drawing even late with the talented Class 1 runner Mr Bogart (Aus) (Northern Meteor {Aus}).
Looking for his second Hong Kong Cup in three years, Designs On Rome (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) was home in :22.7, while the Mile-bound Helene Paragon (Fr) (Polan {Fr}) threw in a final sectional of :23.6 to complete his morning work with big-race rider Hugh Bowman up. The Longines IJC winner was also aboard G2 Jockey Club Sprint winner Not Listenin'tome (Aus) (Dylan Thomas {Ire}), who was time in :49.4 (:25.6, 23.8) down the backstretch, while Helene Happy Star (Ire) (Zamindar) capped off Vase preparations with a run through the stretch timed in :23 flat.
Japanese Jump Outs…
As is their custom, the Japanese runners were all given a chance to open up down the lane. A Shin Hikari (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) can be cantankerous and unruly at times, but the gray was all business Thursday morning, as he galloped six furlongs in a strong 1:15.2, with a final two furlongs in :21.7. Lovely Day (Jpn) (King Kamehameha {Jpn}) wasn't quite as strong, but was still home in :22.9 in his final work for the Cup. Maurice (Jpn) (Screen Hero {Jpn}) and Satono Crown (Jpn) (Marju {Ire}), worked comfortably and in tandem, neither asked to burn up the turf, while Staphanos (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) clocked a fast final quarter-mile, but got a few turndowns of the whip, looking somewhat unfocused, and appeared to even shut down about 15 metres from the line while being asked by his exercise rider. On the other hand, Big Arthur (Jpn) (Sakura Bakushin O {Jpn}) looked right at home over the all-weather track Thursday and covered 800m in :49.4, with final 200m splits of :11 flat and :10.8. He could be the one they all have to beat in the Sprint Sunday. No one would fault Nuovo Record (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}) if she were over the top, given her recent trans-Pacific travels, but last year's Cup runner-up shows no sign of quit. The chestnut capped her morning work over five furlongs with an ultimate quarter-mile in a spectacular :21.1.
Among the Others…
Two horses bound for the Vase have continued to impress and neither did anything to dissuade me that they will each fire a strong shot this weekend. Big Orange (GB) ( Duke of Marmalade {Ire}) may need to step up his game by more than a few lengths if he is to cause Highland Reel (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) any bother, but he goes out there, does what he is asked to do in professional fashion and looks fantastic to the eye. Perhaps the one horse that has my attention more than any other is Silverwave (Fr) (Silver Frost {Ire}). On turf or, as he was Thursday, on the dirt, his stride remains fluid and powerful and he covers plenty of ground. He wasn't asked for much, but galloped home very nicely and although he would also need a career-best to threaten the favorite, he's an absolute must use underneath.
Pure Sensation Gets A Day Off…
Patricia Generazio's Pure Sensation (Zensational) was scheduled to make a trip to the Sha Tin dirt surface Thursday morning, but he instead remained in the quarantine stables and was hand-walked after popping an abscess in his left hind. Despite the minor setback, Rudy Nerbonne, assistant to trainer Christophe Clement, is confident that the gray gelding will be in the starting gate come Sunday.
“He was much better [this morning], so [Friday] we'll go to the track and put him back on his routine before the race,” Nerbonne explained a short time before Pure Sensation drew gate 11 for Sunday's G1 Longines Hong Kong Sprint.
Most recently third in the GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint Nov. 5, Pure Sensation turned in a three-furlong drill in :37 Dec. 6, but developed the foot issue a short time after. As previously planned, he did not make a trip to the track Wednesday morning.
“We wanted to give him an easy day anyways,” Nerbonne explained. “He had breezed on the grass two days earlier and breezed very well. But he took the travel very well, so I'm not worried about that. I am a little concerned about his feet, but I think we are going to make the race.”
Pure Sensation will be ridden in the Sprint by Christophe Soumillon.
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