Cathay Pacific Hong Kong International Races

[my miss storm cat]

Possible.....

Ramonti
Red Clubs
George Washington
Benbaun

[my miss storm cat]

"Confirmed".....

Satwa Queen
Benbaun

Possible.....

Youmzain

[my miss storm cat]

Capablanca, who just won his 7th at Kranji, to the Sprint.

(Anyone know the name Johnny Roucke?)

[_ed_]

Possible NZ invaders.

Magic Cape and Mandela for the Vase...nice horses but I'm not sure they're quite good enough for this race. I'd love to be proven wrong though.

Seachange for the Mile. She is definitely good enough, one of the best horses born in NZ in the last decade. But because of her poorly formed front legs (her front right leg swings outwards when she runs) they're worried about running her right-handed...she's never been run that way around. That's a major concern for me.

Apparently they might not go to HK with Seachange though, they're thinking more seriously about giving her a rest before going to Dubai in March and then maybe even races like the Lockinge and Windsor Forest in the UK after that.

[my miss storm cat]

Can you tell me about Magic Cape?

Thanks.

[_ed_]

He's by an Australian sire called Magic Albert, and he's a very good horse.

He's had 11 starts for 4 wins, 1 second and 3 thirds, and one of his wins was in our 2000 Guineas last November, beating Jokers Wild. He also ran third in the Kelt last week.

So he's got ability, but he failed to get the distance in our Derby, and I think the Vase is the same distance (2400m?), so that's a major factor against him.

Also I think he possibly needs at least a slightly rain-affected track to show his best, which he got in his Guineas and the track for the Kelt last week had a bit of give in it too. The Sha Tin track is generally quite firm for International day, which I don't think he'll like very much.

I think he would be a better chance in the Mile, but even then I think the Hong Kong opposition are likely to be just a bit too good for him.

[my miss storm cat]

Well if he beat Jokers Wild (wish there were news about him) he must be pretty good!

I had never heard the name so thanks.

Agree that the locals are a tough crowd.

[my miss storm cat]

Miss Andretti.....

[my miss storm cat]

World’s elite focusing on CXHKIR 2007 17 Oct 2007

Hong Kong Jockey Club

The countdown to the Cathay Pacific Hong Kong International Races has begun.

At the close of first nominations for the December 9 spectacular at Sha Tin, the Hong Kong Jockey Club received 287 first nominations, including 69 individual Gr.1 winners and nearly half of the active turf horses in the current World’s Top 50.

The global diversity of those entered for the four Gr.1 races worth HK$62m (US$8.1m) has never been more pronounced - 17 countries and regions are represented with Gr.1 winners from 13 racing jurisdictions.

“The entries for this year's Cathay Pacific Hong Kong International Races are exceptional and illustrate how the meeting has matured into the Turf World Championships. We have developed a Grand Slam fixture in the international racing calendar, one that clearly features the world’s leading owners, trainers, jockeys and horses as a championship event,” said Mr William A. Nader, Executive Director of Racing at the HKJC.

Featured nominations for CXHKIR 2007

Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Sprint (HK$12m - US$1.6m - Gr.1 – 1200m)

Last year’s increase of the Sprint's distance to 1200m from 1000m has attracted stronger international entries with an increase of Gr.1 winners evident. While the challenging situation of equine influenza in parts of Australia poses a potential barrier to participation, the Club is working very closely with the relevant authorities to enable stars the quality of Miss Andretti, champion-elect of this year’s Global Sprint Challenge and four-time Gr.1 heroine, to take their rightful place.

The CXHK Sprint has identified the world’s top-ranked sprinter for three of the past four seasons and Absolute Champion bids for back-to-back victories in a race that Hong Kong has dominated since 2002. The home team is bolstered further by the very exciting Medic Power and Sacred Kingdom.

Also entered are the Gr.1 winners Apache Cat, Red Clubs, Benbaun (Prix de l’Abbaye), Marchand D’Or, Aston Machan (Sprinters Stakes) and Kelly’s Landing (Dubai Golden Shaheen).

Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Vase (HK$14m - US$1.8m - Gr.1 – 2400m)

A race that has been dominated by European horses in recent years, but this could change in 2007 given the international variety and quality of the nominations. Breeders’ Cup Turf winners Red Rocks from Britain and the American Better Talk Now front the nominations in company with Delta Blues, the Melbourne Cup hero from Japan, the current Caulfield Cup favourite Maldivian and Laverock from the UAE.

Some of the other notable Vase contenders include Quijano, the Grosser Preis von Baden winner; English Channel, one of the best American turf performers of recent times with five Gr.1 victories to his name; the French-trained Doctor Dino, triumphant in a Gr.1 in New York last month; and Sky Conqueror, who in May added the Woodford Reserve Turf Classic (Gr.1) to his haul of multiple Group wins in his native Canada.

Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Mile (HK$16m - US$2.1m– Gr.1 – 1600m)

Close attention should be paid to the NetJets Breeders’ Cup Mile on Saturday week as the winner of that race will collect a US$1 million bonus if successful in the Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Mile, already the world’s richest turf event over 1600m.

Excellent Art, trained by Aidan O’Brien to win the St James’s Palace Stakes, is a possibility for the multi-million double, as are the American Gr.1 performers After Market and Kip Deville.
The best European mile form is also present through the French filly Darjina, winner of three Gr.1 races this season. Australian mare Divine Madonna is another on a hat trick of top-level successes at a mile, but topping the lot is the brilliant Seachange, a five-time Gr.1 champion in New Zealand.

The Duke, winner and twice placed in this event, will try to maintain this redoubtable race record and he could be opposed by Able One, the Champions Mile winner last term.

Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Cup (HK$20m - US$2.6m - Gr.1 – 2000m)

Initial entries for the most valuable turf event in the world over 2000m read like a who’s who of the turf, led by Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe hero, Dylan Thomas, a six-time Gr.1 winner, including consecutive Irish Champion Stakes at this distance. Dylan Thomas is also nominated for the Vase and stable companion and four-time Gr.1 winner George Washington is doubly entered for the Cup and Mile.

Admire Moon, runner-up last year, is on course to renew rivalries with Hong Kong’s highest-ranked duo of Audemars Piguet QEII Cup king Viva Pataca and Vengeance Of Rain, the reigning Horse of the Year and successful in this race in 2005.

Godolphin have nominated the Cup as first preference for Ramonti, third in the Mile last year and a triple Gr.1 winner in Britain since; Artiste Royal (Clement L Hirsch Memorial) and Satwa Queen (Prix de l’Opera) both captured Gr.1 prizes on either side of the Atlantic two weekends ago and are also in the reckoning alongside the exceptional victor of five Gr.1 events, Miss Finland, striving to present David Hayes with his first winner in Hong Kong since returning to train in Australia.

[_ed_]

Sir Slick heading for the Mile: http://www.nzracingnews.co.nz/news-a...tain-cook.html

Sir Slick is an awesome gelding, have to be honest and say he hasn't got much natural ability, but he's so courageous. He goes to the front and refuses to let anything pass him.

Have to wonder if he's good enough against the field he'll be facing in the Mile though.

[my miss storm cat]

SCMP.....

Friday, November 09, 2007

Japanese raiders given green light for Sha Tin mission
Visitors will be subjected to a 14-day period of pre-export quarantine

ALAN AITKEN


The Japanese participation in the Cathay Pacific Hong Kong International Races has been rescued after quarantine protocols were finally thrashed out yesterday by the Jockey Club and government officials on both sides.
Club representatives and officials from agriculture ministries in Japan and Hong Kong have been trying for the past month to overcome issues associated with the Equine Influenza (EI) outbreak, which struck Japan earlier this year.

Club officials had been pessimistic that the obstacles could be overcome so yesterday's announcement came as a surprise breakthrough.

"All I can say about the discussions is that it has been a very long and difficult road to achieve a positive outcome," said the Jockey Club's relieved international racing manager, Mark Player.

"But the great news is that the Japanese will be able to come and now we are in a position to talk to the connections of suitable horses with some confidence and try to get them here. Up until now, that hasn't been possible as we didn't know if they would be allowed in. The Japanese horses have been such an important part of the growth of our meeting towards turf world championship status and I'm thrilled that they will be here again."

The agreed protocols will demand Japanese horses undertake a 14-day quarantine at Hanshin Racecourse in Osaka and, provided they show no symptoms of EI and there are no positive cases within a 10km radius of the quarantine facility, they will then arrive to do the usual visiting quarantine at Sha Tin prior to the meeting.


Player said the pre-export protocols would make it impossible to invite Japan Cup runners, as the race is run on November 25 - just 15 days before the Hong Kong's showcase - and that time frame would not allow them to complete the process.

"That might mean that we are down a little on the numbers from Japan, but I'm still confident we will get a number of the right kind of visitors for the Hong Kong Mile and Sprint, and perhaps one or two for the Cup," he said.

Player would reveal only one of the likely visitors. "The Yasuda Kinen runner-up Kongo Rikishio is high on our list of targets for the Mile."

Dubai Duty Free winner and second in last year's Hong Kong Cup, Admire Moon might have been a target, too, but it is understood he is aimed at the Japan Cup.

Player received bad news on Wednesday about high-class Australian miler, Divine Madonna, who would be spelled instead of coming for the Mile.

But the news continues to be good with top sprinter Miss Andretti. "She is down to run on Saturday in Melbourne then goes into quarantine on Monday and everything is on schedule for her to come next month," he said.

[my miss storm cat]

The JRA is sending Kongo for the Mile.....

[my miss storm cat]

Andretti on her way into quarantine
Story By Jason Hickson

Monday, 12 November 2007: Leading trainer Lee Freedman has been granted permission to take a travelling companion with Miss Andretti to Hong Kong.

Miss Andretti brought up her fifth Group 1 win in The Age Classic up the straight at Flemington on Saturday and will today head into quarantine at Sandown prior to her leaving Australia.

As she is the only Australian horse competing in next month's international day in Hong Kong the HKJC has granted Freedman permission to bring along a companion.

Freedman said travelling to Newmarket earlier this year with a few other Australian horses was a good experience and allowed all the runners to settle in well, but his trip to Japan with Makybe Diva, who went alone, wasn't a situation that he would be repeating.

“I think it's crucial with travelling,” Freedman told Sport 927. “With nearly every horse but certainly with mares it's crucial you have a companion with them. They just do that much better and relax a lot quicker and things are a lot easier.”

Joining the mare in quarantine today and on to Hong Kong as a companion will be 2002 Group 1 winner Barkada.

Miss Andretti will contest the $2.2 million International Sprint (1200m) at Sha Tin on December 9 and will meet the likes of top local stars Absolute Champion, Medic Power and Sacred Kingdom.

[my miss storm cat]

Clubsy retired and out.....

[my miss storm cat]

Must now go and faint.....

CAN'T WAIT!!!!!

Championship line-ups revealed for Cathay Pacific HKIR 2007

21 November 2007



The Cathay Pacific Hong Kong International Races 2007 will welcome several of the greatest names in world racing to Sha Tin on Sunday, 9 December.

Four Gr.1 races, worth a collective HK$62m (approx.US$8m) in stakes, have lured 28 international runners to join 22 from Hong Kong. Overall, there are 21 individual Gr.1 winners from 12 racing jurisdictions.

"We can hardly wait for the most prestigious day in Hong Kong sport. We believe our aim to host the Turf World Championships is borne out by the quality of the selections announced," said Mr William A Nader, Executive Director, Racing, of the Hong Kong Jockey Club.

"We are thrilled that Europe's Horse of the Year, six-time Gr.1 winner Dylan Thomas could possibly make the final appearance of his brilliant career in Hong Kong by going head-to head in the Vase against last year's Breeders' Cup Turf hero, Red Rocks. Dylan Thomas would be the highest-rated horse ever to race in Hong Kong from an international rating of 128."

"In the Cup we can look forward to another Classic renewal with our local champions Vengeance Of Rain and Viva Pataca meeting Ramonti, a triple Gr.1 winner in Europe this year," he added.

"The Mile is equally exciting as both Darjina, the highest-rated female in the world, and Breeders' Cup Mile runner-up Excellent Art face strong opposition from local stars that include Good Ba Ba and Floral Pegasus.

"And to cap it all, a world crown is on the line in the Sprint. We have lured the brilliant Australian mare Miss Andretti to tackle Sacred Kingdom, quite possibly Hong Kong's next international superstar, and the defending titleholder, Absolute Champion. Europe's leading sprinters Benbaun and Marchand D'Or will also be present.

"These fields underline the championship status of the Cathay Pacific Hong Kong International Races and the countdown has begun to one of racing's truly great occasions on Sunday, 9 December," Mr Nader concluded.



CathayPacific Hong Kong Vase

Gr.1 - 2400m - HK$14m - (US$1.8m)

British and French-trained contestants have won this title in 11 of its 13 editions and the challenge from Europe is stronger than ever with Dylan Thomas from Ireland joined by Gr.1 winners from Britain, France and Germany.

Selections

Dylan Thomas - The highest-rated horse ever to race in Hong Kong with Gr.1 triumphs including the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes, two Irish Champion Stakes and the Irish Derby.
Quijano - Joint-highest rated horse in Germany and successful in his homeland's most prestigious race, the Grosser Preis von Baden, in September.
Red Rocks - British-trained Breeders' Cup Turf hero and Classic placed in 2006; third in his repeat Breeders' Cup bid last month.
Doctor Dino - Globetrotting winner of the Man O' War Stakes at Belmont Park. Has also placed at the elite level in Singapore, Britain and France.
Sky Conqueror - Trained in Canada and first past the post in the Woodford Reserve Turf Classic (Gr.1) at Churchill Downs.
Bussoni- Gr.2 Bosphorus Cup triumph in Turkey added to Gr.2 and Gr.3 European wins this term.
Egerton- Triple Group race winner in Germany and former runner-up in the Grosser Preis von Baden.
Vital King - Mercedes-Benz Hong Kong Derby champion last season and finished strongly for 4th in the CX International Cup Trial recently.
Arch Rebel - Best achievement when coming within a nose of victory in the Prix du Conseil de Paris (Gr.2) last month.
Syllabus - Close 4th to Vengeance Of Rain and Viva Pataca in the Hong Kong Gold Cup last season.
Viva Macau - Gr.1 placed in France and 3rd in the Hong Kong Champions & Chater Cup in June.
Sculptor - New Zealander successful in the Saab Quality at the Melbourne Spring Carnival
Ever Bright - One of Hong Kong's up-and-coming stayers and winner of the Gr.3 Queen Mother Memorial Cup in May.
Macleya- Dual Group winner in France in 2007 and short-head second in the Gr.1 Prix Royal Oak last start.


The Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Sprint

Gr.1 - 1200m - HK$12m - (US$1.6m)

Hong Kong horses are unbeaten in the sprint since 2002 with four of five quinellas going to locally trained horses. The home defence is formidable, as is the challenge from abroad led by sensational Australian mare, Miss Andretti.

Selections

Absolute Champion - World's top-ranked sprinter for 2006 after winning this race by a record margin of over four lengths.
Benbaun - The first overseas horse home in the Sprint for the past two years; 3rd in 2006 and he landed a first Gr.1 win in Prix de l'Abbaye last month.
Sacred Kingdom - Simply awesome in his rout of Hong Kong's finest in the Cathay Pacific International Sprint Trial last weekend in track record time.
MarchandD'Or - Twice victorious in Gr.1 Prix Maurice de Gheest also twice placed in Gr.1s on his last two starts.
Scintillation - One of the best sprinter-milers in Hong Kong of recent seasons and triple domestic Gr.1 winner.
Tiza- Formerly triumphant in a South African Gr.2 and twice a winner in French Gr.3 sprints in 2007.
Desert Lord - First past the post in last year's edition of the Gr.1 Prix de l'Abbaye and runner-up in the Nunthorpe Stakes (Gr.1) this term.
Why Be - Clearly the highest-rated horse in Singapore and winner of the Lion City Cup (SingGr.1-1200m) and a phenomenal 20 races overall at home.
Galeota- In form British sprinter, Gr.1 runner-up to Cape Of Good Hope at Royal Ascot (at York) two years ago, and a Listed winner on his last start.
Royal Delight - Bypassed the Sprint Trial to remain fresh for the big one having won the HKGr.3 Premier Bowl in then track record time.
Sunny Sing - HKGr.1 winner over a mile in 2006 but also successful in Hong Kong sprints at Pattern level.
Sunny Power - Yet to finish out of the quinella in six 1200m starts and runner-up to Royal Delight in the Premier Bowl.
Miss Andretti - Five-time Gr.1 winner and one of the best Australian sprinters of the decade. Clear leader of the Global Sprint Challenge.


The Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Mile

Gr.1 - 1600m - HK$16m - (US$2.1m)

Asia's premier turf mile has produced an even spread of Asian winners since 2001. However, the European challenge for this year's Mile is perhaps the strongest ever.

Selections

Kongo Rikishio - Runner-up in the Yasuda Kinen after he set a track record in the Yomiuri Milers' Cup (Gr.2).
SpiritoDel Vento - A triple Group race winner in France who was very impressive when taking the Gr.2 Prix Daniel Wildenstein at the Arc meeting.
The Duke - Curtain call for last year's hero of this race, also 2nd and 3rd in previous years. To retire after a remarkable fourth consecutive Mile assault.
Able One - Mastered several high profile rivals when an all-the-way victor of the Champions Mile.
Al Qasi - Trainer Peter Chapple-Hyam returns to his former base with this Gr.3 winner and Gr.2 runner-up in his most recent appearance.
Floral Pegasus - HKGr.1 winning miler who came within a nose of winning the MBHK Derby in March; very encouraging runner-up in the Mile Trial.
Good Ba Ba - Captured the Cathay Pacific International Mile Trial at the weekend and connections feel he can peak on 9 December.
Joyful Winner - Dual HKGr.1 winner and 2nd and 3rd in the last two editions of the Champions Mile.
Kildonan - Multiple Gr.1 champion in South Africa for international trainer Mike de Kock.
Down Town - In the form of his life, he lowered a mile track record dating back to 1983 when taking out the Sha Tin Trophy last start.
Egyptian Ra - HKGr.3 winning frontrunner last season and competitive in the best local races of late.
Excellent Art - Leading 3yo male miler in Europe; St James's Palace Stakes winner and three times runner-up since, including the Breeders' Cup Mile.
Creachadoir- Runner-up in the Irish and French 2000 Guineas in May and subsequently purchased by Godolphin.
Darjina - The world's highest-rated female thoroughbred after her defeat of Ramonti, George Washington et al in the Prix du Moulin, her third Gr.1 mile triumph in 2007.


The Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Cup

Gr.1 - 2000m - HK$20m - (US$2.6m)

The world's richest race on turf over 2000m features former winner Vengeance Of Rain facing his old foe Viva Pataca and Ramonti, triple Gr.1 winner for Godolphin this year.

Selections

Ramonti - Triple Gr.1 winner in Europe since finishing third in the Mile at this meeting in 2006. Now steps-up in trip for another testing mission in HK.
Vengeance Of Rain - Horse of the Year, six-time Gr.1 champion, including the CX Hong Kong Cup, Audemars Piguet QEII Cup and Dubai Sheema Classic placing him in the top-ten of all-time international stakes earners.
Viva Pataca - Four Gr.1 titles, including a commanding victory in the 2007 Audemars Piguet QEII Cup from top international rivals. Rounded off preparation by dominating the Cathay Pacific International Cup Trial.
Pressing - Career highlight arrived with a comfortable victory of the Gr.1 Premio Roma earlier this month.
Shadow Gate - Defied a very wide trip to prevail in the Gr.1 SIA Cup at Kranji in May.
Bullish Luck - Evergreen former Horse of the Year and twice HK's Champion Miler; he finished an unlucky-in-running 2nd in this race in 2004.
Art Trader - Worthy finish in 3rd to Viva Pataca in the Cathay Pacific International Cup Trial following 5th in this race last year.
Royal Prince - 4th in the Cathay Pacific International Mile Trial and further improvement expected.
Musical Way - Hat trick of stakes race glory in Europe this autumn, principally the Prix Dollar (Gr.2) at Longchamp.
Declarations for the Cathay Pacific Hong Kong International Races 2007 are on Thursday, 6 December, the same day as the barrier draw in the Sha Tin parade ring.

[my miss storm cat]

HKJC Press.....


Dylan Thomas an intended runner in Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Vase



The Hong Kong Jockey Club is delighted to announce that Dylan Thomas, Europe's Horse of the Year, is an intended runner in the Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Vase 2007.

The eleventh-hour opportunity for this invitation arose when Dylan Thomas, currently isolated at the Shiroi Quarantine Station in Japan, on Tuesday returned a positive result for Equine Viral Arteritis (EVA) to force his withdrawal from this Sunday's Japan Cup.

The positive result has been attributed to the fact that Dylan Thomas had been vaccinated against EVA prior to his run in the Breeders' Cup Turf in the United States last month.

However, a horse testing positive to EVA cannot compete in Japan even if the positive test results from a vaccination reaction.

The vaccination for EVA can be compared to the vaccination for Equine Influenza (EI) in that vaccination protects the horse from contracting the disease by stimulating the production of antibodies to the disease.

Hong Kong temporary importation regulations do not require testing for EVA because the risk of introduction of EVA by an international racehorse has been assessed to be negligible in a country with no breeding industry.

Once Hong Kong officials were informed Dylan Thomas would be unable to run in Japan, they immediately moved to try and secure the six-time Gr.1 winner for one of the Cathay Pacific Hong Kong International Races.

"We are very happy that the Hong Kong Jockey Club has extended Dylan Thomas an invitation to compete in Hong Kong after the disappointment of not being able to run in the Japan Cup," trainer Aidan O'Brien said.

"There are still a number of obstacles to be overcome before Dylan Thomas can compete, but it is our clear intention for him to start in the Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Vase if permitted by the relevant quarantine authorities."

On the quarantine protocols, Dr Brian Stewart, the HKJC's Head of Veterinary Regulation & International Liaison, explained: "The negotiations to allow Dylan Thomas to travel to Hong Kong are complex and ongoing. But we are hopeful that a way forward can be found to enable Dylan Thomas to compete in Hong Kong and to protect the health status of the local horse population."

Mr William A Nader, the Club's Executive Director of Racing, welcomed the development saying: "The possible participation of Dylan Thomas in the Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Vase would be a tremendous boost to international racing. To have the winner of the King George & Queen Elizabeth Stakes, Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe the Irish Champion Stakes is unprecedented and it reinforces the growing importance of the Turf World Championships."

[my miss storm cat]

Dr. Ho gives Kinane the VP mount, Beadman on Viva M, Brettie back on Ab Champ with Saint Martin stepping aside. He's all class.


"I'm like a kid who lost his toys and then found them again," BP on Ab Champ.

[NoChanceToDance]

Well, he's certainly a kid!

Glad to see Kinane is back on board. He loves that horse

[my miss storm cat]

Kinane gets Able One, Beadman on Joyful Winner and Art Trader.....

[Seattleallstar]

who will ride Dylan Thomas? I'm assuming it will be King Kieren, if not I hope its not that Irish disaster named Mutaugh