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Irish hopefuls The Lion In Winter, Los Angeles, Al Riffa and Galen have all hit the ground running ahead of their intended targets on Sunday’s Longines Hong Kong International Races (HKIR) at Sha Tin.
Aidan O’Brien has been a perennial figure at the meeting, winning the Group One Hong Kong Vase (2,400m) three times courtesy of Highland Reel (2015 and 2017) and Mogul (2020).
He will be represented in the same race on Sunday by Group One winner Los Angeles, who will head to stud following his run, while The Lion In Winter will tackle the Group One Hong Kong Mile.
O’Brien’s travelling head lad Pat Keating was in fine spirits at trackwork on Monday morning and reported both of the yard’s runners to be in rude health following their flights across.
“They both travelled over well. They arrived on Sunday and have been doing great – I couldn’t be happier with them,” said Keating.
“They’ve just been stretching their legs this morning – we’ll just keep building up until Sunday.”
Much of the same sentiment was shared by Joseph O’Brien’s assistant trainer Mark Power, with the yard running Al Riffa in the Vase and Galen in the Group One Hong Kong Cup (2,000m).
Aidan’s son has made waves in his own right at his County Kilkenny yard in Ireland and Al Riffa will be one of the protagonists in a wide-open Vase.
He was last seen finishing a gallant seventh in the Group One Melbourne Cup (3,200m), with Power giving his runner a clean bill of health.
“He seems to be good. He travelled over really well – the guys on the flight were really happy with him and the way he travelled,” said Power. “He seems to be pulled out fresh and well, we just did a light canter – nothing too strong.
“It was just a light canter over a mile to stretch his legs, but he’ll just keep in his routine canters now for the rest of the week. He won’t do a whole lot more – he’s a fit horse.
“A mile and a half will be perfect, he’s not slow on pace. I know the Melbourne Cup is a two-mile race but he’s got good form over the mile and a half and has travelled really well. He seems to have the right credentials and justifies being close to the top of the market.
“It’s a strong race, maybe there’s not as many internationals here, but I think what is here is probably of a very strong standard. It’s not going to be an easy task.”
Galen also was given the thumbs up by Power, with the Gleneagles galloper continuing his consistent patch with a recent second in the Group Two Bahrain Trophy (2,000m).
“He probably ran a career best the last time in Bahrain and was given a great ride by Dylan Browne McMonagle,” said Power.
“He comes here in great form – he seems to have settled in really well, travelled over well, and he seemed to be moving really good on the [Sha Tin dirt].
“Romantic Warrior has obviously become a global superstar and he’s going to be very hard to beat, but we’ll give it a good go.”
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