3 minute read
News just came through that Singapore’s Inferno has been scratched from the HK$22 million Group 1 Longines Hong Kong Sprint (1200m) to be run this Sunday.
Trainer Cliff Brown made the decision on Tuesday afternoon, four days after the Kranji superstar landed in Hong Kong on Friday. He has already informed the Stewards from the Hong Kong Jockey Club his horse won't run.
The Sprint is one of four races held at the yearly Hong Kong International Races, and Inferno was the only Singapore-based runner who gained an invitation this year, the first since Lim's Cruiser, who ran unplaced in the 2018 renewal of the Sprint.
It turned out the trip to the former British colony has not gone without hitch for Inferno, even before he set foot on the plane.
Things began to go awry when the air-conditioning in his float box broke down. As a result, the Holy Roman Emperor four-year-old was left standing in the sweltering heat for three hours.
The discomfort arising from this most unfortunate predicament, not to mention standing back-to-back for another four hours on the Hong Kong-bound airplane, has unfortunately taken a toll on Brown's eight-time winner raced by Australian outfit Barree Stable.
To compound matters, he had come down with a minor foot issue the day before the flight, with the hold-up on the tarmac certainly not helping his cause.
"Inferno became distressed after the air-conditioning in his box broke down. He was melting in the heat at the airport for three hours," said Brown.
"Luckily, (Singapore Turf Club veterinary surgeon) Dr Dan Shaw and (assistant-trainer) Tony Lane were able to hose him down and sedate him as he was getting so upset.
"From the way the trip has unfolded, it was a really bad start, and once he arrived in Hong Kong, things got worse when he didn't eat properly for three nights.
"To top all that, the day before he left, he had a small foot issue. I thought it would get right, and he actually cantered fine yesterday, his work was fine.
"But all in all, he was not coming right, and as I needed him to gallop tomorrow, I've decided to pull the pin early. We're coming home."
The Australian handler couldn't believe what was supposed to be an exciting adventure has gone all pear-shaped, but the horse's welfare comes first.
"Glenn (Whittenbury of Barree Stable) is disappointed of course. The horse already had this foot issue, and in hindsight, maybe I could have pulled the pin there and then," said Brown.
"But I thought it could come right, and decided to press on, but unfortunately, it hasn't.
"If there's a positive spin, the trip away will help him grow up and if we are fortunate to travel him again in the future, this trip will have helped him immensely."
Brown said he had not worked out the arrangements for Inferno's return date to Singapore yet, but has already touched base with the Hong Kong Jockey Club officials.
With Inferno (who was to be ridden by Hong Kong champion jockey Zac Purton) out, the Sprint is reduced to only two overseas raiders making up the remaining field of 13 – Danon Smash and Tower Of London, both from Japan.
The Everest winner Classique Legend, recently transferred from Australia to Hong Kong trainer Caspar Fownes, will probably start as the favourite (local champ Hot King Prawn will be close behind) even if his prep leading to his first Sha Tin run had not produced sparkling results.
Classique Legend is raced by Boniface Ho, the owner of two-time Kranji Mile winner Southern Legend, who himself will line up in the HK$25 million Longines Hong Kong Mile (1600m).
