Melbourne Cup rematch in HK Vase

Dunaden and Red Cadeaux, who crossed the wire about a millimeter apart to

decide the Group 1 Melbourne Cup, take their rivalry to Sha Tin for Sunday's

$1.8 million Hong Kong Vase. Their rematch provides much-needed intrigue for

this Group 1 test, which had lost its star power through the injury to Snow

Fairy.

This time, of course, the rival European stayers are cutting back from two

miles to about 1 1/2 miles. The shorter trip could prove problematic for the

former handicappers among this caliber of competition.

Dunaden was merely a listed-class performer at this distance in France, and

his class hike to Group level accompanied an increase in distance. Although the

Mikel Delzangles trainee was an impressive winner of the 1 1/2-mile Geelong Cup,

his Group 3 prep for Melbourne, Sunday poses a stiffer challenge. Craig

Williams, who missed the Melbourne Cup-winning ride because of a suspension,

seeks compensation aboard Dunaden here.

The Dunaden/Red Cadeaux rivalry mirrors that of their respective homelands in

the Hong Kong Vase. France and Great Britain have dominated, with the tricolor

winning eight and the Union Jack six.

Both countries have arguably better chances of glory with Group 1 performers

at this distance. Boosting French hopes are Silver Pond, Sarah Lynx and Vadamar,

while Great Britain has Redwood and new recruit Jakkalberry.

Silver Pond will be making his first start for Freddie Head, having been

purchased for €510,000 on the eve of his eighth in

the Group 1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. Once a classic prospect after capturing

last year's Group 2 Prix Hocquart, the gray was sidelined for the rest of his

sophomore campaign.

Sarah Lynx reveled in the rain-softened ground at Woodbine to stun the Grade

1 Canadian International, far and away the best performance of her career. The

John Hammond filly failed to duplicate that effort next time in the Grade 1 Japan Cup, checking in a well-beaten 12th, and

hopes to rebound. Sarah Lynx is the only distaffer in the field, but fillies and

mares have racked up four wins and seven placings over the years.

Vadamar is the lone three-year-old attempting

the Vase. The Aga Khan homebred was well regarded enough to attempt the Epsom

Derby, finishing seventh to his compatriot Pour Moi, and his subsequent form

suggests that he's on the upgrade. Vadamar was third to Reliable Man and Meandre

in the Group 2 Prix Niel, and stepped up to take the Group 2 Prix du Conseil de

Paris last out for Alain de Royer-Dupre.

Redwood, runner-up in last year's Vase, demands

respect in his return visit. The Juddmonte Farms homebred is taking a similar

route, via Woodbine, but with contrasting results. A year ago, Redwood landed

the Grade 1 Northern Dancer Turf and was third in a three-way photo in the

Canadian International. This fall, the Charlie Hills trainee headed straight to

the Canadian International off a break, and faded to seventh. Redwood is

eligible to do considerably better, if Michael Hills can try to save ground

somehow from post 12.

Godolphin, which sent out Mastery to a

commanding win here last year, calls on Campanologist to play the same role for

the U.A.E. flag. The royally-bred six-year-old has enjoyed his greatest success

on the Continent, where he has collected four Group 1 trophies at this distance.

Campanologist is razor-sharp at present, coming off scores in the Group 1 Preis

von Europa and Group 1 Gran Premio del Jockey Club.

Trained by the in-form Yasutoshi Ikee, Trailblazer is

well qualified to emulate Stay Gold, who gave Japan its only Vase victory in

2001. Interestingly, Stay Gold was trained by Yasuo Ikee, Yasutoshi's father,

and was also fourth in the Japan Cup prior to his Hong Kong heroics.

Hong Kong has had trouble defending its home

turf in this affair, but the versatile Thumbs Up could be on the verge of

changing that. The Caspar Fownes veteran has made his mark at the Group 1 level

in seasons past, winning the 2009 Classic Mile and placing in such events as the

Queen Elizabeth II Cup, Hong Kong Derby, Hong Kong Gold Cup, Stewards' Cup, and

perhaps most significantly, the 2009 Champions & Chater Cup in his first try at

this trip.

Fownes also has Super Satin, the 2010 Hong Kong

Derby winner and QEII third who is trying to recapture his old spark. He was a

reasonable fifth to Thumbs Up in the Jockey Club Cup, hinting that he might be

ready to move forward.

Mighty High took the Hong Kong champion stayer's

title through his victory in the Champions & Chater Cup, but he grew

increasingly out of sorts during his recent sojourn in Australia. Trainer John

Moore hopes to get him right off his ninth in the Jockey Club Cup.

Mr Medici,

the previous season's champion stayer, was dethroned with his short-head loss in

the 2011 Champions & Chater. This is his first opportunity to compete over this

trip since then, and he warmed up with a seventh in the Jockey Club Cup.