Hong Kong entrants get final preparations

Eagle Mountain will be making his third start off a layoff in the Cup (Photo courtesy of Hong Kong Jockey Club) Jockey Kevin Shea gave a thumbs up to Sunday's Hong Kong Cup (HK-G1) hopeful EAGLE MOUNTAIN (GB) (Rock of Gibraltar [Ire]), who stretched his legs with a canter on the dirt at Sha Tin on Friday. Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Maktoum's four-year-old has made just two appearances in 2008 for trainer Mike de Kock, winning the Joel S. (Eng-G3) at Newmarket on October 3 before settling for the runner-up spot three weeks later at Santa Anita in the Breeders' Cup Turf (G1). "He's flying," Shea reported. "He's got fresh legs and he will run a big race for sure." Among his rivals is the peripatetic LINNGARI (Indian Ridge), who will be making the final start of his career in the Cup. British champion jockey Ryan Moore partnered the chestnut through an easy breeze over the Sha Tin all-weather track.

"He was very good today," Moore said. "The ground might be a little faster

than ideal, but hopefully we will get into the frame. There are some very good

horses in this race."

The globetrotting Linngari will make the Cup his swan song (Photo courtesy of Hong Kong Jockey Club) Hero of the Grosser Dallmayr Preis Bayerisches Zuchtrennen (Ger-G1) in July, the six-year-old ran second in the Topkapi Trophy (Tur-G2) in Istanbul on September 7, and comes here off a third to New Approach in the Champion S. (Eng-G1) at Newmarket on October 18. Hong Kong Sprint (HK-G1) challenger APACHE CAT Lion Cavern) bounced out of Wednesday's breeze in good order, turning heads as he completed two circuits of Sha Tin's all-weather surface. "It's all good," trainer Greg Eurell said. "Everything's gone well with him. We just had a little pace work for him this morning and he pulled up well."

The bald-faced chestnut streaked to five Group 1 wins last season, but failed

to lift a hoof upon his return in the Patinack Farm Classic on November 8. He

came back to run fellow Aussie star Takeover Target (Celtic Swing) to a short

head in the Winterbottom S. (Aus-G2) three weeks later and looks to be in good

form ahead of his first international outing.

While Kevin Shea was enthusiastic about his chances in the Cup, he was more

low-key about Sprint mount MYTHICAL FLIGHT (Jet Master). The South African-based

five-year-old blew out 400 meters in :22.5 on the all-weather.

"The work was okay. I just think this horse is better over 1000 meters (about

five furlongs)," Shea said. "The one thing in his favor is that he will like the

fast ground."

The Sprint is contested over 1200 meters (about six furlongs).

Fifth in last year's Sprint, SUNNY POWER (Honour and Glory) missed by a nose

to ENTHUSED (Centaine) in the Hong Kong International Sprint Trial S. (HK-G2) on

November 23 over the course and distance. He will attempt to get the job done

from post 12 this time.

"The gate is a bit wider  than we would have liked, but I'd prefer to be

out there than in gate one or two," trainer Francis Lui admitted. "He's not a

horse that we should try and hold up, so I hope he can find a position in

midfield with cover. It's important that he jumps out on time, but (jockey)

Brett (Prebble) knows him well, and he has come on nicely since his run in the

Sprint Trial."

Pressing enters the Mile in razor-sharp form (Photo courtesy of Hong Kong Jockey Club) PRESSING (Ire) (Soviet Star) had a leisurely spin under jockey Neil Callan Friday, covering the final 400 meters of his final preparation for the Hong Kong Mile (HK-G1) in :26.50. The five-year-old will attempt to earn his third-straight victory as he enters the race off scores in the Topkapi Trophy and the Premio Ribot (Ity-G2) on November 9. "Everything is fine with him," trainer Michael Jarvis said. "He's been impressive in his last two starts, particularly in Turkey when he beat a quality field in a good time. I really think a mile is his best trip, although he's won at 2000 meters against weaker opposition. Hopefully he'll jump out, get a handy position and produce his finishing kick." SUPER HORNET (Rodrigo De Triano), Japan's lone entrant in the Mile, had a gentle outing over the all-weather before he schooled in the paddock. "He looks very well," said Keita Tanaka, racing manager for trainer Yoshito Yahagi. "We are very happy with his condition and are all set for Sunday.

MAJOR CADEAUX (Cadeaux Genereux), who drew post one for the Hong Cup Mile,

had his first gallop under his regular rider Richard Hughes since he arrived in

Hong Kong. Trainer Richard Hannon Jr. was pleased with the effort.

"He hasn't done a lot since he has come out here as he is plenty fit enough,

and we want to reserve his talent for Sunday," Hannon said. "The draw has

allowed us to sit in behind on the rail and go to the fastest route. I hope when

we reach the straight the gaps will come."

Also having a final canter over the all-weather surface was 2007 Breeders'

Cup Mile (G1) winner KIP DEVILLE (Kipling), who was ridden by regular exercise

rider Michelle Nevin. He was denied a repeat success in the Mile by Goldikova

(Ire) (Anaaba) last time.

Hong Kong Vase (HK-G1) rivals MORES WELLS (Sadler's Wells) and JAGUAR MAIL

(Jungle Pocket) worked in company in a half-speed gallop on turf. Jaguar Mail's

conditioner Noriyuki Hori wanted the four-year-old to have a slow work in

company following his fast breeze at the Miho training center last week,

according to assistant trainer Masanori Watanabe. Jaguar Mail enters the Vase

off a second in the Japan Racing Association's Copa Republica Argentina on

November 9. There he was defeated 1 1/2 lengths by Screen Hero (Grass Wonder),

who returned to win the Japan Cup (Jpn-G1).

Mores Wells is coming off a sixth over soft turf in the Trigo S. at

Leopardstown on October 27, where he disappointed at 2-1. Trainer Kevin

Prendergast expects better from Mores Wells Sunday.

Breeders' Cup Marathon hero Muhannak samples the Sha Tin turf (Photo courtesy of Hong Kong Jockey Club) "He has a fair chance if he can run up to his form when third to New Approach in the (Irish) Champion S. (Ire-G1)," Prendergast said. "I'd scratch his last run because the ground was bottomless that day and he had a touch of a virus after." MUHANNAK (Ire) (Chester House), who prevailed in the inaugural Breeders' Cup Marathon over Pro-Ride at Santa Anita on October 25, also had a half-speed gallop on grass. Although Muhannak enters the Vase off three consecutive wins, including the Diamond S. at Dundalk on September 26, the four-year-old seeks his first black type success on grass. Pat Smullen, who rode him in the workout, is unconcerned about the surface switch. "He is in the same form now as he was when he won in California," the Irish jockey said. "He floated along the ground there. It's not really true to say he's a horse for synthetic surfaces only because he wants good ground, and I couldn't complain with the track here." Muhannak has won a pair of handicaps in Britain from seven starts on grass.

Vase candidate MOURILYAN (Ire) (Desert Prince [Ire]), sixth in the Canadian

International (Can-G1) last out, had his final workout over the all-weather

surface.

"He was unlucky in his last run in Canada, where he should have finished

second or third and he did finish alongside Doctor Dino (Fr) (Muhathir [GB])

(who was fifth)," trainer Herman Brown commented. "He's fresh and I think he'll

run well. This race is not beyond him. My only concern is that he'd probably be

better on a stiffer track, and I hope there's an honest pace."