Lord Nelson set to give his best

VANCOUVER, British Columbia - According to trainer Dino Condilenios, Lord Nelson was a bit short going into the opening-day George Royal Stakes at Hastings April 16. That being the case, the classy 8-year-old gelding figures to be very tough to handle in the $40,000 Hong Kong Jockey Club Saturday. The 6 1/2-furlong feature drew six horses and will go as the seventh race.

Lord Nelson might not have been at his best in the George Royal, but as usual he ran a gutsy race, losing by a neck to Blowin in the Wind. Lord Nelson looked like the winner at the top of the stretch, but he tired in the late stretch and was nipped at the wire.

Lord Nelson came out of the George Royal in excellent shape and was sent out for a serious four-furlong work in 46.80 seconds April 30. Frank Fuentes rides.

Condilenios also entered Five Point Star, and the 5-year-old gelding figures to move forward off his fourth-place finish in the George Royal. He drew the rail, and figures to be the one they will be chasing.

"He needed a race before he was really ready last year," said Condilenios of Five Point Star. "So I think he'll run a much better race this time, and he's a pretty tough sprinter when he's on his game."

Kickboard is a newcomer to the Pacific Northwest. He won a non-winners-of-three allowance race at Oaklawn March 30 but looks better suited to a middle distance.