** Longines Hong Kong International Races (8 Dec 2013) **

This will also help http://campaign.hkjc.com/en/2013-hkir/2013-hkir-index.aspx?b_cid=EWRNRNE_1314LHKIR

Hello Fato - booked my tickets to the big day today, 20 of us going this year, it's a cracking day out.

Probably was too sharp for both MA and CM, MA's run looked just like a trial run, wasn't pushed at all. The race next Sunday should be a good race with them both over 2000m, looking forward to seeing it

It looks like Moonlight Cloud is to run in the mile.

Lord Kanaloa is coming back to defend and it looks like Just  a Way is going to run in the cup race too instead of the Japan Cup.

Yes, watched it and he just didn't fire at all. He does throw some bad runs in, sometimes when backing up too soon. It's looking like a wide open sprint though. You'll be able to watch the replays of the G2 races from the HKJC website on Sunday. Military Attack v California Memory but don't rule out Rainbow Chic, he has to be one of the unluckiest horses in HK, always finds trouble in running one day it will drop for him. MA has drawn the 10 gate too, CM is in 5. In the sprint I'm looking forward to seeing if Amber Sky can go round the bend - he was brilliant over the straight 1000m last time out.

Definitely low to mid bias, though you need to take into account style of running - CM will always drop out and finish like the proverbial. Rainbow Chic is entered in the cup, not guaranteed to make the line up yet but to many judges eyes he should have won the HK Derby last year if he'd had a clear run - you can look at replays, I was one who thought he should have won it. MA and CM are proven at the level though and will be very hard to beat.

Amber Sky at 14-1 interests me, if he handles the bend he will be right there as his last run over 1000m was 0.5 seconds outside Silent Witness' track record and he carried 7lbs more than Silent Witness did - will have a little on at that price as a just in case.

He did bleed unfortunately, that's the 2nd time he's done it in as many runs over 1200m was looking very good until he hit 150m from home. The interesting run in the 2000m race was Akeed Mofeed who passed CM in the finish after being given a lot to do by Douglas, Military Attack looked like he blew up as he looked like the winner turning in so perhaps he was a little short on fitness. The mile was another good run by Gold Fun but I'm not too sure he'll be good enough to beat the overseas horses, still have to see what Glorious Days does in trials as he's not been seen yet due to a setback and with Ambitious Dragon out it looks as if the home defence of the mile could be weak.

Anyone know if The Fugue is going to make the gate?

I'm struggling to see past the favourites, which is a shame really!

The home team have a stranglehold on the Sprint and I think Lord Kanaloa will take all the beating, but I think Slade Power is a bit of ew value at 25/1.

The Mile should be between Moonlight Cloud and Sky Lantern. MC has never won on the road though, and surely 7f with a little cut is her ideal trip. If I could bet without the fav I may have a few quid on Xtension. Currently 80/1 in the win market.

The Cup feels like the most competitive field. I like Military Attack but I have missed the odds.

As for the Vase, I never manage to get the Fugue right. This really is hers for the taking, but at odds of 7/1 I'd rather chance Red Cadeaux retaining his crown.

Hard to say. Last season she ran at the BC then got withdrawn from the Vase because she had a temperature. I thus imagine it was part of the plan all along this season.

Agreed it's a shame re California Memory.

Decent form guide can be found here


http://www.hkjc.com/english/corporate/racing_news_item.asp?in_file=/english/news/2013-11/news_2013112801326.html

Will be updated as and when info is available.

Agree, but you'd have to wait for the draw of the mile and sprint before discounting any runners.

Love this meeting and can't wait for next Sunday. Had a look at a few races and I'm going to keep it simple and go with horses I've backed this year. In the HK Cup it's has to be Military Attack, the HK Mile Sky Lantern and in the HK Sprint one of my favourites Lucky Nine (if he gets a good draw).

I'm going to take on Moonlight Cloud because of her poor record outside of France and the quick ground (dry week forecast). 3yr olds haven't got a brilliant record in the HK Mile but Sky Lantern looks the right type for this and will love the ground and track. With Sky Lantern it all depends on how well Hughes rides the race because he might find traffic problems coming from the back but the 7-1 available is good value IMO. Of the home team Dan Excel and Packing Whiz are horses I like but not sure they are good enough to win. Dan Excel is one of those nick it from the front kind of horses that have won this race in the past (Able One, Beauty Flash). If he gets a good draw I might have an EW saver on him.

I'm not too worried about Military Attack's last two runs because they have been warm up races and I'm confident John Moore will have him spot on for this.

Lord Kanaloa is a top class sprinter and will be hard to beat but as mentioned by FS and HK the draw is huge in this race. It's a wait and see for me but Lucky Nine is a favourite of mine and will be the one if he gets a good draw. Lucky Nine and Lord Kanaloa are also very similar because they are both top class 6f sprinters but can also win races at 7f and 8f and that's what I think you need in this race because it usually run at a very strong pace and you need a horse with a bit of stamina to finish it off.  Of the two Power horses, I like Slade Power because he has that extra bit of stamina but he can be very iffy in the stalls and you don't want that in this race. He didn't have any problems at Ascot(won) last time so he's an EW maybe for me.

The HK Vase doesn't look the greatest race of the meeting and I don't think The Fugue is great value at her current price. IMO 1m 4f isn't her best trip and the form of her races over 1m 4f don't look that brilliant. The 1m 4f race she won at York, the 2nd and 3rd both bombed in their next races and she only finished marginally in front of some American plodders at Santa Anita. Looking at the rest they all seem to be strong staying types so I will be surprised if this race isn't run at a good pace. I respect Red Cadeaux because of his international race record but his price is a bit short for me so I've backed one I think is an improver at 1m 3f+ trip and that's the Japanese runner Asuka Kurichan. I really like his last two runs which have been over longer trips and in both races he's stayed on powerfully. His last run was his best winning the G2 (Handicap) Copa Republica Argentina, comfortably beating Admire Rakti who was only a length away from winning the Japan Cup last week. His 50-1 price is too big and a bit of an insult so I've backed him EW with the Ray Winston mob.

Props to betfair for putting this up....I'll post something later in the week when the draw comes out...

Don't suppose we can get an Arima Kinen market up too? Or too much to hope for?

I won't keep banging on about how it only costs approx GBP 60 to be in a box all day with food and beer included then as that wouldn't be fair!!! Agreed on ER that he is a 5f specialist but he did look better this time at 6f, I'm just looking at over priced horses at the moment and you never know LK and LN could get the 2 outside draws.

The draw is on Thurs morning after the Happy Valley meeting for the jockey challenge - I'm backing Hughes at 8-1 for the challenge as he's picked up a couple of live chances IMO.

Is this on ATR, they have been unusually quiet with the adverts if it is?

You're a lucky boy HK getting all of that for £60. All I will have is a bowl of porridge and an orange juice, what a way to watch top class horse racing!!!

Thanks for the link and draw info HK (not sure HOW I missed the info on FatoteSport's first post)!

Brett Prebble's oozing confidence and it sounds like Lucky Nine is primed to run a massive race. I'm preying for a good draw now HK, I will feel sick if he gets another stinker! If the draw is good I will be putting Lucky Nine, Military Attack and Sky Lantern in an EW treble.

I'm still not sure about The Fugue, she has only won 1 of 4 races against the boys and the 1m 4f race she did win was a very average G1 at York against her own sex. At Santa Anita she was going nowhere at the furlong pole and looked like she was out of puff to me, I really don't think 1m 4f is her trip. Fair enough it's not a vintage G1 race and she is a good filly but I wouldn't want to be backing her at those odds.

She will probably go and win on the bridle now I've posted all of this!!!

MrD it costs 80p to get in to the normal enclosure for all meetings! I will post a link for you on Saturday that you can view reviews of the races for Sunday on the local tv station - its in English and it's done for all meetings

HKD 10 entry, if you want to push the boat out you can go into members enclosure/stand for HKD 100, but you'll have much more fun in the beer garden on a weds night - some marvelous things to take one's eye!

I'd take a chance on Glorious Days rather then the 4-1 on Gold Fun