Hong Kong They Said It

Viva Pataca will compete on Hong Kong International Day for the fifth straight year, still searching for his first win (Hong Kong Jockey Club)

“He’s had a light prep, but his first-up run was outstanding. He’ll run well,
and if he wins, maybe they will build a statue for him.”

—jockey Darren
Beadman on Hong Kong hero VIVA PATACA (Marju), who will try to garner a rare
Vase (HK-G1) win for the home team on Sunday

“Americain is going faster than it looks, and to be honest, we have not
discovered his limits so far. The Vase will be a good test.”

—trainer Alan de
Royer-Dupre on Vase contender AMERICAIN (Dynaformer), the Melbourne Cup (Aus-G1)
winner in his latest

Crystal Capella’s form among distaffers suggests that she can handle males (Hong Kong Jockey Club)

“She will give a very good account of herself.”

—jockey
Ryan Moore on Vase hopeful CRYSTAL CAPELLA (Cape Cross [Ire]), who tackles males
off a mighty comeback in the Pride S. (Eng-G2)

“He’s thriving out here. The last time I worked him back at home it was minus
4 degrees! He looks really well, and is enjoying the better weather here.”

—jockey Michael
Hills on how REDWOOD (GB) (High Chaparral [Ire]) is enjoying Hong Kong ahead of
his tilt at the Vase

“The horse is in good form and we are very pleased with him. He has no
problem with traveling.You can forget his last run in the Canadian International
(Can-G1) at Woodbine. They went no pace, and when they reached the straight, the
horses all concertinaed. Redwood was bumped about and failed get a run.”

—Charlie Hills,
assistant to his father Barry, advises to throw out Redwood’s last

Redwood hopes for a better pace scenario this time (Hong Kong Jockey Club)

“Poor fellow. He was clipped to
come here in deep, freezing snow, and now is enjoying the warmth of Hong Kong
and coming to himself.”

—trainer James
Given on INDIAN DAYS (Daylami [Ire]), whose coat is starting to shine in advance
of the Vase

“He was just a baby then. I’ve looked after him since he got here
and he won three out of four in his first season. Then he won the (Hong Kong) Derby Trial
(HK-G2) last season and he probably should have won the Queen Mother Memorial Cup
(HK-G3) at the
Vase trip — Ollie (Doleuze) just went a bit too soon. This year he’s run two
solid races, and he’s a horse who takes a couple of runs to reach full fitness.
I set out what I wanted to do and got the two runs into him, and he’s coming
into it happy. But he’d need to be at his best — and still improving — to win
this.”

—Hong Kong-based
trainer Sean Woods on promising four-year-old KING DANCER (Danehill Dancer), who
faces the biggest test of his career in the Vase

Stacelita’s tactical speed should serve her well in the Cup (Hong Kong Jockey Club)

“She has got the right attitude and gave me the right sensation over the turf
this morning. She’s quite relaxed — that is the key with her — and worked
well. I am told she put on about 12 pounds since her arrival, and some might
think she is still pretty light. But that is the way she is. She has got those
old-school looks you find on older racing prints.”

—jockey Christophe
Lemaire on Cup contender STACELITA (Monsun)

“We
were drawn 10 last year, then 18 in the Japan Cup (Jpn-G1), and are once again on the
outside of the whole field. I hesitated between two boards and could have picked
up what was stall 10. What can I say? It is annoying.”

—trainer Corine
Barande-Barbe bemoans CIRRUS DES AIGLES’ (Even Top [Ire]) pattern of bad luck at
the draw; he’s widest of all in post 13 in the Cup

Sri Putra is a feast-or-famine type (Hong Kong Jockey Club)

“I was happy to draw gate four. I’m good at draws; the training part is
a little harder!”

—Australian
trainer Mike Moroney, who will take over GLASS HARMONIUM (Verglas [Ire]) from
Sir Michael Stoute after the Cup

“As for Reggane, she did not show much lately and we have taken her hood off
to check out what she was up to. It was reassuring. She usually works with that
hood on because noise can easily get her started. She is now very well. In
springtime, she is always bothered with ovarian problems and does not give her
best. But at the moment, she is quite all right. The Cup is a big race, one of
these very difficult International Group 1s, but my filly has got a good turn of
foot and she will try to use it for the best.”

—de Royer-Dupre on
Cup hopeful REGGANE (GB) (Red Ransom)

Royal Bench was once a French Guineas contender before sustaining a last-minute setback (Hong Kong Jockey Club)

“I don’t know him much, but he has got the right attitude and won well for
his debut with us. He should become a good miler and this race is a very good
test for us. It is a high-quality mile and if he does well over here, we will
know where we stand.”

—trainer Freddie
Head on Mile (HK-G1) contender RAJSAMAN (Linamix), who joined him after being
purchased for €440,000
at the Arqana Arc Sale

“The draw’s not ideal, but on the other hand he’s not the sort
of horse you want to see bottled up, and in that respect I’d rather have 11 than
one.”

—trainer
Caspar Fownes on THUMBS UP’s (Shinko King) drawing post 11 in the Mile

“I don’t mind; we will wait
anyway.”

—trainer Robert Collet
on his Mile entrant ROYAL BENCH’s (Whipper) landing in post 12

A Shin Forward hopes to become Japan’s first Mile winner since Hat Trick (2005) (Copyright Japan Racing Association)

“It took some time for him to get familiarized with the new surroundings here, and soon after
his last start in the Mile Championship (Jpn-G1), he was put in a quarantine
alone, and in addition to this, he flew to Hong Kong, which made him lose some
weight. But his appetite is now
completely recovered, and his condition has been improving a lot in these two or
three days. I think there are no hitches with his well-being.” 

—traveling head
lad Mutsuyoshi Hirata on Japan’s Mile representative A SHIN FORWARD (Forest
Wildcat)

“Obviously his poor run in the Trial is a concern, as he relaxed well but
dropped out tamely when the pressure went on. But it was a slowly run race and
the vets couldn’t find a problem with him. Maybe it was just a bad day. His
previous run was good and we know he can run a race if he’s back on song. After
all, he was in front four strides out when he ran third in the Mile last year.
But I’d have to say I am more hopeful than confident.”

—jockey Zac Purton
on FELLOWSHIP (O’Reilly), a disappointing 11th in the Jockey Club Mile (HK-G2)

Ortensia could find conditions to her liking at Sha Tin (Courtesy of Hong Kong Jockey Club)

“We are happy with him now. We have had this race in Hong Kong for some time,
but I am a bit worried about being drawn in stall 1. He could get messed about
as there is unlikely to be much room.”

—trainer Andrew
Balding envisions what could go wrong from the rail for DREAM EATER (Night
Shift) in the Mile

“For me it is a great draw. He will go straight from there and I will not
have to worry about finding a position — he likes some cover. They always fan
out once they reach the straight and that is where we need to pick up.”

—Dream Eater’s
jockey Jimmy Fortune takes a much more upbeat view

Green Birdie (right) foiled Rocket Man in Singapore (Courtesy of Hong Kong Jockey Club)

“He’s a really good horse. Not many win their first five starts, and then he
stepped up a notch in the trial and ran well given his lack of
experience against such seasoned sprinters. He’ll be a lot better for that
experience and be that much tougher mentally. It might be six months before we
see his absolute best, but he has such raw talent you wouldn’t be shocked if he
ran a great race.”

—Purton on the
progressive LITTLE BRIDGE (Faltaat), a bang-up third in the Jockey Club Sprint
(HK-G2)

“He’s got the perfect gate (7) for him. This
horse is getting no respect in this race but I can tell you he’s absolutely
flying and we’re definitely in the hunt. It’s going to be a great race.”

—Fownes sounds
bullish about Sprint threat GREEN BIRDIE (Catbird)