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HONG KONG THEY SAID IT
DECEMBER 8, 2012
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| The injured Cirrus des Aigles missed his chance at a fourth straight Hong Kong tilt
(Hong Kong Jockey Club) |
"It's disappointing to miss the race, but he is not right and will need a
rest. I think it is not too serious and you will see him again next year, I
hope. We had to stop now to ensure things did not get worse and we will give him
the time he needs. I would love to come back to Hong Kong. I very much want to
win here!"—trainer Corine
Barande-Barbe on having to withdraw CIRRUS DES AIGLES from the Hong Kong Cup
"Everyone around Carlton House is upbeat including his jockey Ryan Moore.
Although he hasn't had much overseas traveling experience, he seems to have
taken everything in his stride. He's got a good draw, this is his best distance
and ticks are in all the boxes really. I spoke to The Queen yesterday and she is
really looking forward to the race and to Carlton House's subsequent ventures in
Australia."
—John Warren,
racing manager to The Queen, on CARLTON HOUSE's chances in the Cup
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"I could not be more pleased with him over here. He has got lots of speed and
2,000 meters is his best distance. We extended him for the Arc but we did not
have too. I am very pleased that we have chosen Hong Kong for his last race of
the season, and the Cup above all."
—trainer
Jean-Pierre Gauvin on his tiny but quick three-year-old SAONOIS
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| Australia's Cup hopeful Alcopop comes off three bang-up Group 1 efforts
(Hong Kong Jockey Club) |
"You know, I'm nervous because the horse is going that well. He was good this
morning. He might have gone a touch quicker than we wanted, but when your horse
is carting the rider it's a good sign. Harriet (Leahy) rode him this morning and
she had her feet on the dashboard, which you don't often see with him."—trainer Jake
Stephens on Australian veteran ALCOPOP ahead of the Cup
"He's a nice horse for the future. He'll run well, but we'll have to see
whether he's up to this level at this time. He's a lovely horse in the making."
—jockey
Douglas Whyte on AUTUMN GOLD, who will be making just his sixth career start in
the Cup
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"Obviously it is different than last year when he came here off the back of
his Melbourne Cup win, and this time he was disappointing there. He had a bit of
a muscle problem then and his work times since have been a couple of seconds
slower than last year. However, this course and distance are ideal and we remain
hopeful."
—Sheikh
Fahad al-Thani, owner of DUNADEN, who bids for back-to-back wins in the Hong
Kong Vase
"She just had a nice canter today, but she pricked her ears and she was
enjoying herself out there. She seems to have grown up a bit mentally since last
year. She's fresh and should like the ground here a lot better than she did at
Ascot in her last start. That was her first run in a long time, and all things
considered she ran well. Hopefully she'll come on for that run."
—Maureen Haggas,
exercise rider/wife of trainer William Haggas, on Vase threat DANCING RAIN
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| Joshua Tree will be forwardly placed in the Vase
(Hong Kong Jockey Club) |
"He's in good order despite having had a long season, but he's such a
consistent horse. He had a good stretch of the legs this morning. We'll see what
unfolds on Sunday, but hopefully he can do it again after representing the
stable so well this season. He'll be up on the pace as always, but I don't think
it's necessary for him to lead. There are some speedier finishers than him so he
needs to stay close to the pace, but ideally he wouldn't have to lead early."
—trainer Marco
Botti on Vase entrant JOSHUA TREE
"He wasn't out today, but everything is fine. The only problem is that the
nearer I get to a race, the less confident I feel. It is always the same."
—trainer
James Fanshawe on Vase contender DANDINO
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"I was very happy with his gallop on Thursday. Liberator is a genuine stayer
with class and he shouldn't be out of the first four."
—trainer
David Ferraris on Hong Kong's own LIBERATOR, who will try to upset the Europeans
in the Vase
"He's ticking along OK and his form is better than it looks. He was the first
European home in the Japan Cup on ground which was too firm for his liking --
and don't underestimate how good the Japanese horses are. In the Melbourne Cup,
he just got too far back with the pace against him. I'm not doing a lot with
him, he only ran 10 days or so ago in Japan, and he appears to be in good shape.
I don't know if he can win, but I hope he'll be in the mix."
—trainer
Ed Dunlop on RED CADEAUX, a dead-heat third in last year's Vase
"So far everything is brilliant. The amazing thing is that when she did some
fast times the other day, she was not making any effort and was looking around
at the crowd. I suppose the two local horses (Ambitious Dragon and Glorious
Days) are the main dangers but they have to prove that their rating is not too
high. I think that Siyouma's rating is too low."
—trainer
Francois Doumen on SIYOUMA, who spearheads Team Europe in the Hong Kong Mile
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| Packing Whiz has the talent to upstage the big guns in the Mile
(Hong Kong Jockey Club) |
"He's my main chance. He's a good progressive horse who keeps improving. He's
suited coming back to the mile from 2,000 meters. He's got a hell of a good turn
of foot, as good as Ambitious Dragon and Glorious Days in my opinion."—trainer John
Moore tabs PACKING WHIZ as the best shot of his trio in the Mile
"He probably should have won the race last year. He missed one lead-up, but
he's come on well. He worked well at three-quarter pace yesterday and James
(McDonald) was thrilled with him. He's a good each-way chance."
—Moore
on his most accomplished Mile runner, XTENSION
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"He has matured both physically and mentally. He sometimes does not convince
with his attitude in his work, and it makes it difficult for me to control his
training menu, and he may put on some weight for that reason, so we will give
him a half-gallop tomorrow. To be honest, he was a bit tired after his previous
start, but he has got back into good form here and moved into a higher gear in
the last few days."
—trainer
Yoshito Yahagi on Mile contender GRAND PRIX BOSS
"My horse fits very well and I think I can go into the race with a lot of
confidence. Last time, jockey Yutaka Take won the Grade 1 race for the first
time in two years, and all the supporters were waiting for that moment.
Hopefully the pair can show their best performance again for the Japanese racing
fans and I hope they get better results than A Shin Forward when he placed in
fourth in the 2010 Hong Kong Mile."
—trainer
Masato Nishizono on SADAMU PATEK, winner of Japan's Mile Championship last out
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| Time After Time created a big impression when just missing to Lucky Nine last out
(Hong Kong Jockey Club) |
"After Royal Ascot he had some time off, so he was slow to come back into
work -- that's why he didn't run earlier in the season. He's coming back
freshened up and I'd expect him to come on for this, but he's a tough horse and
he has a great attitude."—trainer
Derek Cruz on veteran JOY AND FUN, who returns from a six-month layoff in the
Hong Kong Sprint
"He's flying and his last run was very good. He was drawn wide that day and
lost ground but stuck on well. I expect him to run well and while Caspar's horse
(Lucky Nine) is the one to beat, even from the wide gate, my horse will give him
a run."
—Cruz also puts in
a good word for CERISE CHERRY in the Sprint
"His last run was excellent. He's ready to run the race of his life and he's
my top chance."
—Moore
tabs TIME AFTER TIME as the best of his Sprint quartet
"His last run was good, and if he has some luck in running, he would be a
rough chance of winning the race."
—Moore
still has some faith in the well-bred ADMIRATION
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"We haven't had an issue with her all the week and that's a real
plus. She's in good shape, around 511 kilograms when we weighed her yesterday,
and that's about her fighting weight."
—trainer
John O'Shea on Australia's up-and-coming sprinter SEA SIREN
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| Curren Chan makes her swan song in the Sprint
(Hong Kong Jockey Club) |
"She has matured mentally, and is very relaxed being with her
stablemate Lord Kanaloa. I think the experience gained from last year's race
should be a big advantage to her. The travel to Hong Kong last year was terrible
as it took about 15 hours, but she still finished strongly and placed fifth.
This year everything, including the journey, has gone smoothly. This is her last
career start, and the stable staff have prepared everything to show her off at
her best, and I hope she can finish safely and be happy."—Akiko Suzuki,
owner of CURREN CHAN, who will retire after Sunday's last hurrah
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