Viddora’s preparations ahead of this Sunday’s HK$16m G1 Chairman’s Sprint Prize (1200m) at Sha Tin are on track according to travelling foreman Paddy Bell.
The six-year-old mare trained by Lloyd Kennewell finished fourth in the G1 Al Qouz Sprint (1200m) at Meydan racecourse on Dubai World Cup night (March 30) in her first race outside Australia.
Bell rode her trackwork ahead of the Al Qouz and has remained with Viddora after connections opted to prolong her stint abroad by going to Hong Kong for the Chairman’s Sprint Prize.
Viddora cantered on Sha Tin’s all-weather track on Monday morning with Bell satisfied with her condition.
“She’s fine, (she) just stretched her legs on the all-weather this (Monday) morning,” Bell told the Hong Kong Jockey Club.
“She’s been here a while now and really has settled in. All is well.
“She’ll have a gallop on the turf tomorrow with Joe (Bowditch) aboard.”
Viddora will be one of two Australian-trained sprinters in the Chairman’s Sprint Prize with five-time Group 1-winner Santa Ana Lane set to represent trainer Anthony Freedman.
Santa Ana Lane won the $2.5m G1 T.J. Smith Stakes (1200m) at his most recent start at Randwick on April 6 under Mark Zahra but he’ll be ridden by Hugh Bowman in Hong Kong with Zahra missing the ride through suspension.
