This Sunday sees Hong Kong's version of the Dubai World Cup meeting and Sha Tin plays host to four thrilling International Group One contests where winning at all costs is the main proviso!
Qipco British Stakes hero Cirrus Des Aigles will line up in the Hong Kong Cup and the French-trained runner will be bidding to claim the second win of his career at the top level and has apparently been working well in the lead-up to this weekend's big race. Godolphin's evergreen Campanologist will be hoping to follow in the hoof prints of Mastery who bagged the 2400m Vase 12 months ago and the 6-y-old claimed two Group Ones in Europe during the summer.
In a normal year you'd say he'd struggle in a contest of this nature, but this year's renewal doesn't look the strongest and while many think Emirates Melbourne Cup first and second Dunaden and Red Cadeaux are the ones to beat, I'm not quite so sure - Americain attempted to do the double last year and failed, plus the fact Frankie Dettori is going over to take the mount adds further hope that Saeed Bin Surour can saddle his second winner in as many years.
In the Mile race, John Moore's Xtension bids to extend his great record since arriving in Hong Kong and the former UK-trained colt won the BMW Champions Mile at the same course in April. A few placed efforts in between should have put him spot-on for this and Clive Cox's ex-trainee could go close.
Dubai Golden Shaheen hero Rocket Man will probably win the Sprint but it would be nice to see Bated Breath gain a deserved success after producing several solid efforts in top company. If any horse deserves to get his head in front, surely it's him.
Thankfully the Hong Kong Jockey Club is simply head and shoulders above many other racing jurisdictions for issuing information pertaining to any horse running at their big meetings; they even provide news as to when runners arrive/land in Hong Kong! Sadly, with less than a month to go, information about horses expected to run at the Dubai Carnival is much less forthcoming which is a real shame bearing in mind that Meydan has the best racing and facilities in the world but we can't advertise and promote it because of being kept in the dark.
Last week many trainers were given confirmation of whether their horses were or weren't approved to run at the Carnival and luckily some handlers who did get the seal of approval were happy to announce the good news on their twitter feeds, which at least keeps some of us updated. Primaeval, Iver Bridge Lad, Spirit Of Sharjah and Treadwell are a few early confirmations along with the usual Luca Cumani battalion headed by Presvis.
Happy on track
Meydan host another really good card on Thursday night and it is great to see Happy Dubai back on the track in the Al Dana Wealth Management Handicap. A three-time winner over the straight turf course, he obviously has the Tapeta (and a bend) to encounter this week but will nevertheless be a popular pick-six choice.
