The three American representatives traveling to Sha Tin for this year's Hong Kong International Races on Dec. 11 were scheduled to arrive in Hong Kong on Wednesday afternoon.
Nicole's Dream, who will run in the five-furlong, $1.28 million Hong Kong Sprint, is scheduled to touch down at 12:45 p.m. local time on Wednesday from Chicago, while Designed for Luck and Willow O Wisp, who departed from Los Angeles, were to arrive at 6:05 p.m. Wednesday.
TOKYO, Japan - Alkaased held off a frantic late rush from Heart's Cry to land the 25th running of the $4 million Japan Cup on Sunday to redeem a season that had seen him miss intended dates in both the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe and the Breeders' Cup Turf.
TOKYO - In a scintillating three-horse battle through the final furlong, Kane Hekili stuck his head down on the line for a well-deserved victory in the $2 million Japan Cup Dirt at Tokyo on Saturday.
Kane Hekili, a 3-year-old son of Sunday Silence, had been backed to 11-10 favoritism by the 56,261 fans in attendance. As they rose to cheer the occasion, Kane Hekili and his rider, Japanese star Yutaka Take, outgamed the Kentucky-breds Seeking the Dia and Star King Man to land the Japan Cup Dirt, an international Grade 1 event at 1 5/16 miles.
TOKYO - Ouija Board, denied victory by Intercontinental in her try for a second successive Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf last month, can eke out a major international triumph in Tokyo in Sunday's $4 million , in which American hopes Better Talk Now and King's Drama promise to be two of the race's better betting values. The Japan Cup will be run at 1:20 a.m. Eastern on Sunday morning.
TOKYO - American challengers Lava Man and Tap Day face a daunting task in the $2 million at Tokyo Racecourse on Saturday when they face the deepest field of Japanese dirt runners in the six-year history of the Grade 1 contest.
Doug O'Neill, who engineered Fleetstreet Dancer's victory in this race two years ago, has elected to stay home this week, thus leaving Lava Man's saddling duties to his assistant, Leandro Mora. The Hollywood Gold Cup winner, Lava Man, faces a pair of obstacles in addition to Tap Day and the strong Japanese home team.
Silent Witness has been withdrawn from Sunday's International Sprint Trial at Sha Tin after Hong Kong Jockey Club veterinarians determined he was dull and off his feed.
The world's highest rated sprinter had been expected to use Sunday's five-furlong, Group 2 race as a prep for a third consecutive title in the Hong Kong Sprint on Dec. 11. Trainer Tony Cruz said that he would now attempt to get Silent Witness, who last ran on Oct. 2 when he won the Sprinters Stakes at Nakayama in Japan, to that race on works alone.
Hurricane Run was named European horse of the year at the 15th annual Cartier Racing Awards in London on Wednesday night.
The highly impressive winner of the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe as well as the Irish Derby, Hurricane Run was also selected as Europe's best 3-year-old colt. Part of Montjeu's brilliant first crop, he will remain in training next year with Andre Fabre.
Hollywood Gold Cup winner Lava Man touched down safely in Japan on Wednesday morning en route to Tokyo Racecourse for the $2 million Japan Cup Dirt on Nov. 26. He was followed some 24 hours later by his fellow Japan Cup Dirt challenger Tap Day, as well as Better Talk Now and King's Drama, who will go in the $4 million Japan Cup on Nov. 27.
Sweep Tosho concluded her 4-year-old campaign Sunday with her second Grade 1 triumph of the year in the $1.65 million Queen Elizabeth II Commemorative Cup at Kyoto, Japan.
Sweep Tosho came late under Kenichi Ikezoe to catch the pacesetting Osumi Haruka for a half-length victory in the 1 3/8-mile race. Sent off as the 9-5 second choice - behind 3-2 favorite Air Messiah, who ran fifth - Sweep Tosho covered the distance in 2:12.50 on firm ground. Two-time defending champ Admire Groove was third, three lengths behind the winner.
