The Racing And Sports view of this years Hong Kong International Races.
On bare form The Hong Kong Cup is a battle between Military Atttack and Cirrus Des Aigles with Hong Kong favoured to retain their top prize for a third straight season.
Cirrus was at his formidable best last time in the Champion Stakes at Ascot but that was on his favoured soft ground which in his old age has become near enough vital to seeing him perform at his top.
The firm ground likely to face him at Sha Tin is less than ideal and plays into the hands of Military Attack who is on track to peak for this day, a peak that would in all likelihood see him come out on top.
Endowing and Akeed Mofeed finished ahead of Military Attack on trial day but must further improve if they are to confirm the placings with John Moore’s charge meeting them better at the weights and his 130+ demolition job in Singapore earlier this year still fresh in the mind.
The International Sprint is one prize Hong Kong have had no trouble holding on to in the past but Japanese raider Lord Kanaloa was able to swoop in and steal it last year and all looks in place for him to repeat the dose this time around.
Once again he comes into the race on the back of success in his home nations biggest sprint, returning form at least the equal of 12 months ago, and things get no tougher today.
Lucky Nine is the highest rated home town rival but he comes with question marks on his preparation having been below par at Flemington last time and toppling the big beast from Japan is expected to prove a bridge too far.
The Vase rarely stays home and it won’t in 2013 with all the key chances coming from abroad.
Favourite The Fugue comes with obvious form claims, her Group One wins in Europe this season beyond anything her rivals can boast, but there must be some query on her now seven months into her campaign and her current price is perhaps short enough.
If she was to falter the Melbourne Cup form looks to the fore, as it was last year when Red Cadeaux came out on top, and this time around the admirable seven-year-old comes off running an absolute bottler in the Flemington showpiece.
He demands respect but so to do his old sparring partner Dunaden and Melbourne Cup third and fifth Mount Athos and Dandino.
Australia has a further connection in the Mile with home town hero Linton flying the flag.
He fits into the “admirable” category as well but this looks a stern test of his talents.
120 is a well established peak for Linton and that surely won’t be good enough to claim a mile that boasts the 129-rated Moonlight Cloud atop a field full of runners in the low 120’s.
It might not be a penalty kick for Moonlight Cloud, though, with the darling Frenchwoman 0 from 4 outside her home country and just 1 from 4 from October onwards.
122+ rated Gold Fun has done everything right in the lead up to this and must be seen as a strong winning hope and Glorious Days, second in this race last year, comes in as something of an x-factor horse having been unseen this season so far.
Throw in a 1000 Guineas winner with a ripping turn of foot, Sky Lantern, and an always honest Helene Spirit and you have yourself a terrific competitive contest.
