Comin’ Through is set to be Australia’s sole representative at the prestigious Hong Kong International Races on December 9.
The Chris Waller-trained five-year-old is one of 13 horses set to contest the Longines Hong Kong Mile, worth AUD$4.3 million, for which the in-form Beauty Generation is the current dominant favourite.
While the quarantine landscape has prevented other Australian-trained horses from making the trip for the meeting, the Waller stable believe it’s a great opportunity to give his Group 1 winner a chance on the world stage.
“Comin’ Through is a very relaxed horse and we are very confident that the travel will be no issue to him and he will take the change of scenery in his stride,” said Charlie Duckworth, racing manager for Chris Waller Racing.
“Obviously with Criterion being his half-brother it is nice that both horses have had enough class to go to Hong Kong for Sir Owen.
“With the current restrictions in Hong Kong it makes the decision to go a little bit harder as you are taking him out of the autumn in Australia.
“So you have to make sure you are sending the right horse and we believe we are.
“Depending on how he runs in Hong Kong we will have a look at where we go from there but it is an opportunity for him to go globe-trotting.”
Comin’ Through has had a mixed spring preparation, winning the Group 2 Tramway Stakes (1400m) first-up before failing to place in four subsequent starts, albeit it at the elite level.
One man who knows the son of Fastnet Rock extremely well is jockey Michael Walker, who has been booked to ride him in the Hong Kong Mile.
Comin’ Through can be hard to catch at times and Walker believes the travel and new environment is exactly what the gelding needs to return to his best.
“I think a horse of his calibre and ability is worthy and when he turns up he’s right there with them,” Walker explains.
“When he’s on song he beats the best milers going around.
“I think going to Hong Kong with a horse like him is perfect because he needs a change in scenery and I think it will give him a new lease of life.
“People might look at his form and think ‘does it warrant’?
“But his last run at Flemington [in the Group 1 Kennedy Mile], he would have been right in the finish if he didn’t get knocked over.
“He’s a fit horse, but with the travel coming up he wouldn’t have done much which is great because he’s better on the fresh side.
“I’m just thinking a change of environment will give him the rush of blood to get up and going.”
Walker will also continue his association with Prince Of Arran in the Longines Hong Kong Vase (2400m), with the pair last start finishing third in the Melbourne Cup.
“I’m really looking forward to it, I think I have great chance in two of the big four races [on the day] so it’s very exciting from my point of view,” he said.
“I’m very happy with Prince Of Arran, if he brings the form from Melbourne to the Hong Kong Vase he’ll be in with a great chance.”
– racing.com
