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The owners of Japan’s champion mare Almond Eye (JPN) have expressed their disappointment at having to withdraw the four-year-old Lord Kanaloa mare from the Group 1 LONGINES Hong Kong Cup (2000m) at HKIR meeting at Sha Tin on Sunday week.
The Hong Kong Jockey Club advised of Almond Eye's withdrawal due to an elevated temperature on Saturday.
''Overnight it was detected that Almond Eye had spiked a temperature while in quarantine ahead of her scheduled travel to Hong Kong for the Longines Hong Kong Cup next weekend,'' said Masashi Yonemoto, CEO of Silk Racing Club on Saturday.
''While she has been treated the decision has been taken in the best interest of her health and well being that she is unable to travel today and therefore miss her intended race in Hong Kong.
''This is a major disappointment for everyone at Silk Racing and all of her fans in Japan.
''We were looking forward to showcasing her talent on the world stage of Hong Kong and we appreciate the opportunity extended to us by the Hong Kong Jockey Club,'' he said.
The withdrawal of the mare, who has captured the imagination of racing world-wide, will be a major disappointment for the Hong Kong Jockey Club who a long term plan in place months ago to invite last year's Horse of the Year and Three Year Filly of the Year.
After winning the Group 1 Dubai Turf over 1800m in March the mare returned in brilliant fashion winning the Grade 1 Tenno Sho Autumn over 2000m at Tokyo on October 27th.
The LONGINES Hong Kong Cup now has a field of eight including three international runners, the Yoshihiro Hatakeyama trained Win Bright (JPN) who won the Group 1 FWD QEII over 2000m at Sha Tin in April, Aidan O'Brien's Magic Wand (IRE) who comes from winning the Group 1 Mackinnon Stakes over 2000m at Flemington on November 9th and Alain de Royer Dupre's Edisa (USA) who won the Jockey Club Oaks Invitational Stakes for three-year-old fillies at Belmont in September.
