Lush Lashes works for Hong Kong Cup

Three-time Group 1 heroine LUSH LASHES (Galileo [Ire]) continued to impress

her connections as she

prepared Wednesday for Sunday's

Hong Kong Cup (HK-G1). The sophomore filly exercised over the course at Sha Tin, putting up 400 meters

splits of :27.8 and :27.7 before finishing with a final 400

meters in :24.4.

"She went through her paces nicely," said jockey Kevin Manning,

who was aboard for the move. "One of her strong points is that she's very

straightforward and can be ridden any way. We can have her handy or slot her in

behind."

Manning added the Irish filly has handled the trip to Hong Kong in fine

shape. "She has traveled over very well and she hasn't lost any weight. She has a very strong constitution and you wouldn't know she's been on

the go for most of the year."

Lush Lashes, who as a three-year-old filly will receive between four and seven pounds from the rest of

the field in her first test against the boys, has made eight starts this term,

winning the Coronation S. (Eng-G1), Yorkshire Oaks (Eng-G1) and Matron S.

(Ire-G1). Looking ahead

to Sunday's race, Manning pinpointed the main competition.

"VIVA PATACA (Marju) looks like the one we've got to beat," Manning said.

Multiple Australian Group 1 winner APACHE CAT (Lion Cavern), a top contender

for Sunday's Hong Kong Sprint (HK-G1), tuned up for his start with a sharp move over the Sha Tin turf. With regular

rider Danielle Ellett aboard, the gelding covered 800 meters in :49.90, zipping

home the final 400 meters in :22.

"He really does feel great," Ellett offered.

"He's very laid-back, very relaxed and takes everything in his stride. It

doesn't matter to him whether he's going left handed or right handed and the

change of environment hasn't bothered him."

Trainer Greg Eurell also issued an

upbeat bulletin.

"I'm very pleased with him," Eurell said. "He's a horse who

enjoys his work, did it pretty comfortably this morning and everything has gone

as well as we could hope for."

Apache Cat has posted five wins at the highest

level in his native land this term, including Group 1 tallies in the Lightning S., Australia S.,

T J Smith S., BTC Cup and the Doomben Ten Thousand. He was last seen finishing

second in the Winterbottom S. (Aus-G2) at Ascot on November 29.

Hong Kong Mile (HK-G1) contender MAJOR CADEAUX (GB) (Cadeaux Genereux), winner of this term's Sandown

Mile (Eng-G2) in April and John of Gaunt S. (Eng-G3) in May, breezed an easy 800 meters in

:53.70 over the Sha Tin all-weather track on Wednesday.

"He lost a little weight when he

arrived, but he's put that back on and we are very happy with him," assistant

trainer Richard Hannon Jr. said. "Many people back home think he wants soft ground -- that's a

fallacy -- in fact I don't think he really liked the soft conditions at Deauville

when he was third in the Prix Jacques le Marois (Fr-G1). We won't be using the ground

as an excuse on Sunday."

Hannon added that Major Cadeaux will turn in a faster

work Friday when jockey Richard Hughes arrives. Major Cadeaux most recently

finished ninth in the Challenge S. (Eng-G2) at Newmarket on October 18.

PACKING WINNER (Zabeel {NZ}), who defeated Viva Pataca in the Champions and Chater Cup

(HK-G1) at Sha Tin in May, breezed 1200 meters in

1:15.50 on the Sha Tin all-weather Wednesday in preparation for the Hong Kong Vase

(HK-G1). He posted his final 400 meters in :23.30 beneath jockey

Douglas Whyte. Trainer Peter Ho was on hand to watch his charge's preparations.

"His first up run was delayed, but he wasn't beaten all that far when he was

only at about 60 percent in the Cup Trial and now he's much better off," Ho said

of Packing Winner's seventh-place finish in the International

Cup Trial (HK-G2) last out on November 16.

"Starting the season at 2000 meters and then going up to 2400 meters is a

challenge, but I think he will either lead or sit in second if the Australian

horse (DOURO VALLEY [Encosta de Lago]) wants

to take it up and he'll be staying on at the finish."

SUPER HORNET (Rodrigo de Triano), last seen placing second in the Mile

Championship (Jpn-G1) at Kyoto on November 23, tuned up for Sunday's Hong Kong

Mile with an 800-meter workout over the Sha Tin turf in :50.60. After watching

Super Hornet breeze beneath exercise rider Koji Kubo, pilot Yusuke Fujioka said,

"He has lost weight traveling in the past and not eaten up well after long

distant trips, but this time he did not lose a lot, and looks in much better

form than I expected. He put in an impressive canter today. I am really excited

about Sunday's meeting."

LAUREL GUERREIRO (King Halo) prepared for

the Hong Kong Sprint with a sharp 800-meter move over the Sha

Tin lawn in :47.80, getting the final 400 meters in a scorching :21.40.

"He

looks in top form and galloped very powerfully," trainer Mitsugu Kon said of the

Hankyu Hai (Jpn-G3) winner. "He hasn't lost any weight traveling here and he is also

eating up well so we are very happy."