The total of entries to our two International races in May now stands at 151 with the recent addition of five more horses.
They are Criterion, Spillway, Guest Of Honour and Star Fashion from the Australian training partnership of David Hayes and Tom Dabernig who have nominated all four for the $3 million Group 1 Singapore Airlines International Cup (2000m) and Hong Kong’s Rich Tapestry for trainer Michael Chang who has entered his globetrotting sprinter for the $1 million Group 1 KrisFlyer International Sprint (1200m).
Of the Hayes-Dabernig quartet, Criterion and Spillway boast the better credentials. Criterion is a dual Group 1 winner - Rosehill Guineas (2000m) and the Australian Derby (2400m) in 2014 - when trained in Sydney by David Payne. At his first run for Hayes, Criterion lost no marks when third to Designs On Rome in the Group 1 Longines Hong Kong Cup (2000m) last December.
A UK import for Hayes, Spillway recently won the Group 1 Australian Cup (2000m), narrowly edging out Extra Zero for a Hayes-Dabernig quinella.
Already a Group 2 winner at home, Rich Tapestry also met with success overseas when a winner in Dubai in the Group 3 Mahab Al Shimaal (1200m) on Tapeta in 2013 and US in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Sprint Championship (1200m) on dirt in 2014, and as recently as last Saturday when running a creditable third to Secret Circle in the Group 1 Dubai Golden Shaheen (1200m).
