Tuesday 9 December 2014 12:38, UK
Trainer David Hayes confirmed that Longines Hong Kong Cup (2,000m) contender Criterion is fit and well leading into Sunday's race and dismissed any concerns over a supposed colic attack immediately before his departure from Australia.
"He had colic-like symptoms in his behaviour but it wasn't colic. He had a bad reaction, a colic-like reaction to the tick wash which is compulsory before they fly. He's the one horse in a thousand to react badly," Hayes said.
The former Hong Kong champion trainer, now based in Victoria, said the tick treatment was akin to the horse being shampooed. "He had some blistering and a rash down the spine which is now healing up well although you can still notice it. It's not absolutely ideal but given a choice between colic or a rash, you'll take the rash any day," he said.
Hayes, who trained 458 winners in his nine-season stint in Hong Kong from 1995, says the Australian Derby winning four-year-old is capable of running well on his debut for the stable after being transferred from David Payne's yard.
"My gut feeling is that the horse will run well. He's physically great apart from the rash and he seems to be doing well in the stable here. And I was pleased with his gallop this morning. He did it very easily and his recovery was great.
"His exhibition gallop at Moonee Valley races, before he left, was very good and this gallop this morning will be all he needs. That will be his final bit of work," he said.
Hayes said that Criterion's chance would be greater if the ground happens to be soft. "If we get rain, I'll be dancing in the streets. He's very good with some give. His two G1 wins in Sydney earlier in the year came on rain affected tracks and the ground was just too firm for him last start in the Mackinnon Stakes.
"This track (Sha Tin) will suit him, be better for him. It won't be as firm as Flemington, no matter what but I'd still be happy to see some rain," Hayes said of the horse whose five career wins have come right-handed.
CURREN MIROTIC (JPN)
Worked on the all-weather
Shohei Shimosaka, the racing manager, said: "He has been slightly tired from the flight, but he has recovered quickly and is eating up very well. He is improving."
DOMINANT (HK)
Galloped 1,200m on the turf under Joao Moreira, in company with Same World, in 1m 19.2s (27.4, 28.6, 23.2)
John Moore, trainer, said: "I'm happy with that, he worked really well and he's showing me that he's going the right way into Sunday. He'll just do a bit on his own the all-weather on Friday."
FLINTSHIRE (FR)
Cantered over 1,400m on the all-weather track with regular exercise rider Annelie Ackerman up
Richard Lambert, travelling head lad, said: "He seems to be fully acclimatised already. He really was looking good this morning and we couldn't be more pleased with him. The ground will favour him and anyone could see this morning that he was particularly at ease on the right-handed turns. Annelie is very happy with him."
PARISH HALL (IRE)
Galloped on the AWT going 400m in 28.7s
Ger Flynn, groom, said: "He travelled over well and hasn't lost a whole load of kilos. He's eating well and really seems to be flourishing over here. We'll probably give him a look at the turf and let him point his toe on Thursday by which time his trainer (Jim Bolger) will be here. He'll be an outsider on Sunday but he won't know that and remember Alexander Goldrun was big odds when she won the Cup for us back in 2004."
RED CADEAUX (GB)
Cantered on the all-weather track.
Trainer's assistant Robin Trevor-Jones said: "He's come out of the Melbourne Cup run very well and he's in good shape. It's same-same for him and he looks well. He'll have a more solid workout on the turf tomorrow morning. I'm happy with him...but I'd be happier if Flintshire wasn't in the race."
AEROVELOCITY (HK)
Paul O'Sullivan, trainer, said: "He's fitter than a fiddle - we'll just give him a bit of work on the all-weather on Thursday. He doesn't have to be fitter than a Class 4 horse, he just has to be better!"
BUFFERING (AUS)
Trainer Robert Heathcote believes Buffering will be fine to take his place in Sunday's LONGINES Hong Kong International Sprint despite missing work with an issue with a hoof abscess this morning.
Heathcote said: "I was concerned when we arrived at the stables around 7.30 this morning and the horse could hardly put his foot down. But the farrier was there in no time and did a brilliant job. He took the shoe off, found the source of the problem straight away; drained the infected area and the relief for the horse was almost instantaneous.
"We then gave the hoof a good clean, a good soak and we were walking him again within half an hour. He should be fine and we might even be able to shoe him again this afternoon. I suspect he'd be fine to work tomorrow but we might play it safe and work him Thursday morning. We had planned to gallop him this morning on the turf but working him later in the week is not a problem. No drama, I think he'll be fine."
GORDON LORD BYRON (IRE)
Cantered on the all-weather track
Trainer's assistant Eddie Power said. "He seems happy. He's had a similar enough prep to last year and he's held his condition well since arriving. He'll do a piece of work on the grass on Thursday and possibly go again on Saturday. All good. No complaints with him. His trainer (Tom Hogan) will be here on Thursday morning and I expect his jockey (Wayne Lordan) will have a sit on him on Saturday. He's travelled well, and everything is in good order with the horse. He's run well here twice in the Mile, but I think the sprint is his race."
LITTLE GERDA (USA)
Jogged in the trotting ring before working over 1,800m on the all-weather.
Takeshi Noda, the assistant trainer, said: "This mare is sometimes sensitive. Her appetite is slightly less than at home, but this is along with our expectations. She breathed well during her work today - she is fit so we are not worried about her fitness."
LUCKY NINE (HK)
Caspar Fownes, trainer, said: "He's right where I want him - they all are - I'm happy. The draw is going to play a big part - the luck in the run. It's a Group 1 race and everyone has a crack, and he's going to be right there."
SNOW DRAGON (JPN)
Worked on the all-weather with an easy canter.
Manabu Kumada, the assistant trainer, said: "Jockey Takuya Ono was on board this morning. The horse is in very good shape, better than yesterday. He looks settled and is eating up well. Everything has gone well so far."
SOLE POWER (IRE)
Cantered on the all-weather
David Mason, groom, said: "He takes his travelling really well, and that has been the case again this time. Although he lost about 10 kilos - that is standard and he is drinking and eating plenty. He was squealing this morning and is in great shape. We're confident of another big show in the Sprint after last year's second."
SPALATO (SIN)
Cantered on the all-weather track.
Trainer's assistant David Shepherd said: "He cantered this morning and he looks alright. He had a few problems after his first run here but he seems to be over them now. Racing the opposite direction for the first time, we think he just tweaked a few muscles behind. It's handy we've had the extra time here for him to get over those few issues. He'll have a gallop tomorrow morning."
STRAIGHT GIRL (JPN)
Breezed the turf track with a final 400m split of 27.5s.
Hideaki Fujiwara, the trainer, said: "This is her first experience overseas, so we were more sensitive than she was. She did not lose weight a lot from the flight and travelled better than expected. She has settled physically. More than anything, our staff who have some experience of Hong Kong have taken care of her really well. She's had a break since the G1 Sprinters Stakes but she is a mare and always runs to the best form, so the two-month layoff is not her issue."
FIERO (JPN)
Worked on the all-weather
Hideaki Fujiwara, the trainer, said: "Among the three horses from our stable, he is the one to keep an eye on his condition, because there was only a week after his last race before his departure. He is a very talented horse by Deep Impact. Even after the tough race in the G1 Mile Championship last time, I have not been worried about his condition. This is the biggest target for him this year."
GOLD-FUN (HK)
Galloped 1,200m on the turf in 1m 24.5s (30.2, 31.5, 22.8)
Douglas Whyte, jockey, said: "He's honest as the day's long and he'll never let you down. He felt pretty sharp this morning."
GRAND PRIX BOSS (JPN)
Worked on the all-weather
Yasuhiro Shibuta, the work rider, said; "He was very keen to go faster today but has settled mentally on this second visit to Hong Kong. I will give him a breeze on Thursday."
HANA'S GOAL (JPN)
Worked on the all-weather.
Shizuya Kato, the assistant trainer, said: "She has been here for three weeks and ran in the trial for this race here. I think her condition is improving. She will gallop on the all-weather tomorrow."
TRADE STORM (GB)
Newmarket trainer David Simcock's assistant Ian Russell described Trade Storm as "bouncing" on Tuesday morning as the G1 Woodbine Mile winner had a routine canter on the AWT at Sha Tin: "He's very well and he'll do a piece on the turf later in the week. He seems to like it here. He's consistent and always runs his race, and fully deserved his Group 1 success in Canada. He's a stable favourite, and has a place in his jockey Jamie Spencer's heart too. It was very emotional when he won at Woodbine, and it would be great if he could run another big one on Sunday."
WORLD ACE (JPN)
Worked on the all-weather
Yasutoshi Ikee, the trainer, said: "Thanks to the stable staff, who have been doing a very good job, the horse has kept his good condition, not much different than at home. He has a good appetite. We will breeze him on turf tomorrow."
ARCHIMEDES (JPN)
Worked on the all-weather.
Hideaki Fujiwara, the trainer, said: "This is his first race up after a long vacation since March, but the reason was he took time to recover from his races and needed a rest. I wanted to give him a preparation race before this one but he is in good form and he always runs well in his first race up after a vacation. I am not worried about this schedule. He is owned by HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and is a well bred horse, and we try to keep him in the best condition so he can give his best performance."
CIRRUS DES AIGLES (FR)
Jogged on the all-weather track with regular exercise rider Zoe Gargoulaud up
Zoe Gargoulaud (talking to the pulling horse as they passed by) said: "Take it easy, old man, we go faster tomorrow!"
Jean-Jacques Poincelet, assistant to trainer Corine Barande-Barbe: "Everything went according to plan so far and there is not much to say. We kept him trotting yesterday, just like we did last year."
CRITERION (AUS)
Worked 1,200m on the turf in 1m 25.2s (30.5, 31.3, 23.4)
Trainer David Hayes said: "I was happy with that. He worked home nicely over the last 400 metres and recovered very quickly from the gallop. He's fit enough. That'll be his final piece of work for the week."
DESIGNS ON ROME (HK)
Galloped 1,200m on the turf under Joao Moreira in 1m 18.3s (26.0, 29.1, 23.2)
John Moore, trainer, said: "I'm happy with that. He worked well and I'll just give him a bit of three-quarter work on the all-weather track on Friday."
FARRAAJ (GB)
Worked on the turf going 1,200 metres in 1m 24.6s, the final 400 metres in 23.5s. Farraaj had a solid workout under Andreas Atzeni.
Trainer Roger Varian's assistant Joan Banks said: "He's where we want him to be right now. He has been a lot more chilled here than he was in Australia. Over there our other horse (Ambivalent) seemed to wind him up a bit, but here, he's settled in with Red Cadeaux in his barn and is much more relaxed."
Andreas Atzeni confirmed: "He's in good form, very calm, and did what I asked of him very nicely today."
MILITARY ATTACK (HK)
Caspar Fownes, trainer, said: "He has those good runs under his belt and he's going into Sunday a very fit horse, so I won't be doing much with him this week, maybe a breeze. I'm happy with him."
