SUNDAY: Hong Kong International Races

Hong Kong´s big international meeting this Sunday, sponsored by Cathay Pacific, is truly an international affair with the 4 main races, over 6,8,10 and 12 furlongs, featuring runners from all 5 continents. It is the last big flat meeting of 2008 and should help tie up the odds and ends for the international handicappers who traditionally meet here to fix the international ratings for the year. Please note that because of the time difference (HK is 7 hours ahead of CET) the races will be run early on Sunday morning. The Sprint features two of the world´s best over the distance of 6 furlongs, the Australian Apache Cat, trained by Gary Aurell and rated 121, just touched off last time by Takeover Target, and the French hope Marchand d´Or (Freddie Head, 120), winner of the July Cup and the Abbaye (without Overdose!) but who ran below form in this event last year.

German hope Abbadjinn (Peter Rau/ Terry Hellier) is rated only 110 and faces a stiff task, but prize-money goes down to 6th place, so he should be in the money at least, although the fast ground will not necessarily suit him ideally. The same goes for Ralf Rohne´s Estejo (Daniele Porc) in the Cup, over 10 furlongs; he put up easily his best performance when winning the Premio Roma on heavy ground last time, but conditions this time will be very different - and the opposition far stronger. There could however be a German result here, as Linngari (Sir Michael Stoute/ Ryan Moore) is German-owned and retires to stud at Gestüt Römerhof after this race. He is a very versatile performer, having won top races from 6 furlongs (Goldene Peitsche) to 10 furlongs (Grosser Dallmayr-Preis) and could put up a strong effort here; on ratings he has South African-trained Eagle Mountain and local hope Viva Pataca to fear. In Munich he defeated Michael Jarvis´ Pressing, who runs here in the mile and also has a good each-way chance. Andreas Schütz´ Good Ba Ba won this last year, but does not appear to be in the same form this time around, so the main danger is Breeders´ Cup Mile runner-up Kip deVille.

Easily the best German hope is Wolfgang Figge´s Poseidon Aventure (Andreas Suborics), who runs in the Vase over 1 1/2 miles. The horse is reported in excellent form by his optimistic trainer and could definitely finish in the first four. Last year´s winner Doctor Dino is one obvious danger; he has been a wonderful servant to trainer Richard Gibson, but has had a lot of tough races, and possibly the Australian hope Douro Valley could be the one to beat..