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Hong Kong attracts star names for International races

3 minute read

French, Irish, Australian and UK-trained runners all in the mix.

SEALIWAY winning the Qipco Champion Stakes (Group 1)
SEALIWAY winning the Qipco Champion Stakes (Group 1) Picture: Pat Healy Photography

Champion Stakes winner Sealiway , top Australian mare Verry Elleegant  and home-trained sensation Golden Sixty  are some of the key names entered for the Longines Hong Kong International races on December 12.

French-trained Sealiway came of age with victory at Ascot earlier in the month while Verry Elleegant, a nine times Group One winner for Chris Waller, is a familiar name to British racing fans having crossed swords with Addeybb on four occasions during William Haggas' successful spring raids to Sydney.

The pair feature in the 10-furlong Hong Kong Cup, which has drawn a seven-strong entry from Aidan O'Brien including Oaks winners Love and Snowfall, with Dermot Weld's Breeders' Cup victor Tarnawa, the Jim Bolger-trained Mac Swiney and Joseph O'Brien's Cox Plate hero State Of Rest also in the mix.

Haggas has nominated Champion Stakes runner up Dubai Honour and he is the only British-trained contender in the Cup.

The Hong Kong Vase over 12 furlongs has four British possibles in Pyledriver, who has been sidelined since his Coronation Cup win back in June, Owen Burrows' Hukum, Andrew Balding's Melbourne Cup runner Spanish Mission and Away He Goes, who was ruled out of the Flemington feature due to a setback on Wednesday.

Hong Kong's Horse of the Year Golden Sixty, who is unbeaten in his last 14 starts, will try to defend his title in the Mile with Jane Chapple-Hyam's Saffron Beach a notable name for Britain, while O'Brien has Mother Earth in his possible team.

Adrian McGuinness' A Case Of You is the only Irish-trained hopeful in the Hong Kong Sprint, with no British runners and just Air De Valse for Corine Barand-Barbe from France.

Hong Kong champion Hot King Prawn heads the home nominations while last year's winner, Japanese runner Danon Smash, is entered to defend his title with Australian speedster Nature Strip added an extra dimension.


At The Races

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