Kip Deville must overcome wide draw in Hong Kong Mile

Richard Dutrow is beaming confidence in Kip Deville (Photo courtesy of Hong Kong Jockey Club)

2007 Breeders' Cup Mile (G1) hero KIP DEVILLE (Kipling) spearheads a

four-pronged American invasion of Sunday's Hong Kong International Races, a

quartet of Group 1 turf contests at Sha Tin worth a total of $8.1 million. Kip

Deville and AWESOME GEM (Awesome Again) will line up in the $2.1 million Hong

Kong Mile (HK-G1), while ARTISTE ROYAL (Ire) (Danehill) and OUT OF CONTROL (Brz)

(Vettori) will try to pull an upset in the $2.6 million Hong Kong Cup (HK-G1) at

about 1 1/4 miles.

Kip Deville, who was most recently an honorable second to Goldikova (Ire) (Anabaa)

when trying to defend his Breeders' Cup title, has been marooned in post 12 in a

14-horse field set for the Mile.

Trainer Richard Dutrow is unfazed by the less than advantageous draw in his

right-handed debut.

Good Ba Ba will not surrender his Mile title quietly (Photo courtesy of Hong Kong Jockey Club)

Kip Deville is "giving all the signs that he'll run big," Dutrow said.

Grade 2 winner Awesome Gem, a rank outsider who is exiting a sixth in the

Breeders' Cup Mile, landed in post 3 with Garrett Gomez. The Craig Dollase

charge displayed "mild signs" of travel stress, according to a Thursday

announcement by the Hong Kong Jockey Club, but appeared well and would be

monitored in the lead-up to the race.

Other international shippers convening for the Mile are Japanese star SUPER

HORNET (Rodrigo de Triano), a valiant second in the past two runnings of the

Mile Championship (Jpn-G1); One Thousand Guineas (Eng-G1) heroine NATAGORA

(Divine Light), coming off a runner-up effort in the Prix de la Foret (Fr-G1) in

her homeland; Italian Group 1 victor PRESSING (Ire) (Soviet Star), currently

riding a two-race winning streak; two-time Prix Daniel Wildenstein (Fr-G2)

scorer SPIRITO DEL VENTO (Indian Lodge); and the English pair of MAJOR CADEAUX (Cadeaux

Genereux) and LAA RAYB (Storm Cat).

Lush Lashes represents Jim Bolger, who won the 2004 Cup with Alexander Goldrun (Photo courtesy of Hong Kong Jockey Club)

Like Kip Deville in the Mile, the Bobby Frankel-trained Out of Control drew

the nightmarish post 14 in the Cup. Fifth in the Breeders' Cup Turf (G1) last

time out, Out of Control came within inches of taking the Manhattan H. (G1) and

Clement L. Hirsch Turf Championship (G1) this season. Gomez has the call.

Multiple Grade 1 victor Artiste Royal fared better with post 2. With originally

named rider Frankie Dettori skipping Hong Kong, Olivier Peslier has stepped in

to guide the Neil Drysdale veteran.

"It's a good draw and a nice ride to pick up," Peslier said. "I rode this

horse to win when he was in France (in 2004) and I won on his mother (Agathe)

too."

Breeders' Cup Turf runner-up EAGLE MOUNTAIN (GB) (Rock of Gibraltar [Ire]) is

the highest-rated of the international brigade, which also includes

Italian/German Group 1 hero LINNGARI (Indian Ridge), third to New Approach in

the Champion S. (Eng-G1) in his latest; multiple Group 1-winning filly LUSH

LASHES (Galileo [Ire]), a game second when struck into in the Prix de l'Opera

(Fr-G1) last out; the French trio of LOUP BRETON (Anabaa), BALIUS (Mujahid) and

TRINCOT (Peintre Celebre); and Premio Roma (Ity-G1) shocker ESTEJO (Johan Cruyff).

Doctor Dino will face a tough group of opponents in the Vase (Photo courtesy of Hong Kong Jockey Club)

The globetrotting DOCTOR DINO (Fr) (Muhtathir [GB]) is back to defend his

crown in the $1.8 million Hong Kong Vase (HK-G1) at about 1 1/2 miles. Runner-up

in the Grand Prix de Deauville (Fr-G2) two back, the Richard Gibson trainee will

look to rebound from a non-threatening fifth in the Canadian International

(Can-G1). Peslier, who was not aboard at Woodbine, will reunite with Doctor Dino

here.

His most dangerous adversary could be the deep-closing PURPLE MOON (Galileo

[Ire]), the runner-up in the 2007 Melbourne Cup (Aus-G1) who was most recently

ninth in the Japan Cup (Jpn-G1) after being disadvantaged by the lack of early

pace. JAGUAR MAIL's (Jungle Pocket) form was boosted by the victory of Screen

Hero (Grass Wonder) in the Japan Cup (Jpn-G1), for he had traded decisions with

Screen Hero in his past two.

The flashy Apache Cat will turn on the afterburners in the Sprint (Photo courtesy of Hong Kong Jockey Club)

The $1.6 million Hong Kong Sprint (HK-G1) shapes up as a clash between

Australian star APACHE CAT (Lion Cavern) and European champion MARCHAND D'OR (Marchand

de Sable) over approximately six furlongs. The raiding party also comprises

South African speedster MYTHICAL FLIGHT (Jet Master), the German-based ABBADJINN

(Big Shuffle), the English MOORHOUSE LAD (Bertolini), the Japanese duo of LAUREL

GUERREIRO (King Halo) and TOSHO COURAGE (Last Tycoon [Ire]) and Singapore's

WAIKATO (Pins).

Hong Kong's sprint set is not quite the force it once was. Heading the locals

who will try to keep the trophy at home are the top three from the International

Sprint Trial (HK-G2) -- ENTHUSED (Centaine), SUNNY POWER (Honour and Glory) and

GREEN BIRDIE (Catbird), respectively. INSPIRATION (Flying Spur) and NIGHTLIGN

(Align) round out the squad.