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The United States, Australia’s contender for Sunday’s QE II Cup at Sha Tin, has pleased the Robert Hickmott stable since his arrival at Sha Tin on Monday.

“Our staff tell me he has settled in well,” reported part-owner Nick Williams.

“He’s travelled well, he has put back on some of the weight that he lost on the flight.

“Apparently he’s bright and well, he’s been eating and drinking as per normal so he’s travelled as well as can be hoped for.

“Robert Hickmott will be there soon and he will decide what he does and when he has a gallop on the turf, maybe Friday.

Williams said The United States had his final serious workout last Saturday at Macedon Lodge before his flight to Hong Kong.

“The horse is very fit. He’ll just stretch his legs between now and the race.

“Our horses do a lot of walking, they tend to walk for three hours a day. That’s the majority of what he will do between now and the race.”

Brett Prebble, the Hong Kong-based Australian jockey who has ridden many winners for Team Williams including a Melbourne Cup victory aboard Green Moon, believes the stable has chosen a good year to mount an assault on the QE II Cup (2000m).

"If you're going to have a throw at the stumps, this is a good year to have a crack at it," Prebble said.

Prebble said the prospect of rain would boost the chances of Hugh Bowman’s mount Werther making it back-to-back wins.

“Werther is obviously a stand-out. With rain about, he definitely excels on that but it's not a stellar field.”

Prebble has been based in Hong Kong for 13 years but is yet to win a QEII Cup.

"This is one race that I'd love to win in Hong Kong. It's one of the majors on the calendar so it's good to get a decent ride," he said.