Runners For The HK International Meeting Have Been Announced

The big announcement in Hong Kong racing this week was the list of runners for the international meeting onĀ December 14, where local horses look powerful in three out of the four events.

Able Friend’s win last weekend in the Jockey Club Mile will certainly see him as an odds-on favourite in the Hong Kong Mile and the locals appear to have a strong grip on the Cup over 2,000m as well, with Military Attack, Designs On Rome and Blazing Speed all in top form and even old California Memory showing some signs of getting back to another win.

The Sprint looks a wide open but will still be dominated in pre-race discussions by the unlucky Hong Kong horses from last weekend’s lead-up, where Lucky Nine, Aerovelocity and Sterling City suffered severe interference.

The 2,400m of the Vase is not a Hong Kong speciality and is generally dominated by overseas horses so the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe second, Flintshire, looks a standout.

Asian region interest this weekend is dominated by Japan, where the Japan Cup and the World Super Jockey series will be staged in Tokyo, and it is Zac Purton’s participation in the WSJ contest that sees him missing the prize ride on Divine Calling at Sha Tin.

The former Sydney galloper couldn’t have been more impressive winning his debut for Purton but Joao Moreira gets on in Purton’s absence and might be hard to shift from the grey’s back if he wins the Chevalier Cup as expected.

And with no Purton, Moreira has had the pick of the rides all day and has a tremendous set of bookings, including Shining Champion, Sight Seeing, Brilliant Dream and one of John Moore’s leading Derby hopefuls, Arpinati, as the former Italian makes his return for the season in a competitive Class Two.

By Nathan Mody

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