Arthur Cooper takes a look at the main contenders in this year's Group 1 Hong Kong Vase.
Over the years, British, Irish, and European horses have dominated the mile-and-a-half Longines Group 1 Hong Kong Vase. In recent seasons, it is the Japanese beginning to exert their strength in this race having won three of the past four running's, including the last two renewals. Three-year-olds, including fillies, also have a solid record.
This year, the two younger horses – a colt from Japan and a filly from Ireland, appear to be the two horses to beat.
Lebensstil is the Japanese colt with a record of six lifetime starts with three wins and three placings. His biggest success to date came on his last start when he was successful over eleven furlongs in a Group 2 at Nankayama in September. Highly progressive, he often settles midfield and can run on strongly with the extra furlong unlikely to prove to be a problem.
The Aidan O'Brien-trained filly Warm Heart has a lot going for her. Winner of two Group 1 races over this trip, albeit against her own sex, she was then a close second in the Group 1 Breeders Cup Filly & Mare Turf at Santa Anita when narrowly beaten by the outstanding Inspiral over the shorter ten furlongs.
For both horses, the three-year-old weight allowance at the end of the season will play to their advantage.
Of the older horses the British-trained West Wind Blows arrives following a campaign in Melbourne where he finished second in two of his three race starts, both at Group 1 level including over this distance in the Caulfield Cup. Trained by the father and son team of Simon & Ed Crisford, West Wind Blow has been placed three times over this trip, including when second in the Group 2 Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot in June.
France will be represented by last start German Group 1 winner Junko, who defeated a small field in Munich. A winner of a Group 3 twelve-and-a-half-furlong race at Deauville in August, this André Fabre-trained four-year-old has found his right distance and remains progressive.
Two other Japanese horses not to be dismissed are four-year-old colt Zeffiro and five-year-old mare Geraldina.
Selection – WARM HEART
