LONGINES HKIR Track Notes – Tuesday, 9 December, 2025
LONGINES Hong Kong Cup
Bellagio Opera
Started with a two-lap hack, then went another lap at a sedate pace.
Trainer Hiroyuki Uemura said: “There are no issues with his condition. With tomorrow’s (Wednesday, 10 December) final workout, we’ll look to sharpen him up and put the finishing touches to him.”
Galen
Sat in behind his stablemate Al Riffa for a light canter on the all-weather track.
Mark Power, assistant trainer to Joseph O’Brien, said: “They didn’t do anything too strenuous this morning, just a routine canter, and we’ll do something similar again tomorrow. The lads seem happy with him.”
Quisisana
Once again, the two Francis Graffard stablemates followed their own solo routine, with Quisisana slowly hacking around the all-weather track. The powerfully-built mare looks in great shape as she faces up to the challenge of trying to beat Romantic Warrior on Sunday (14 December).
Rousham Park
Rousham Park enjoyed an all-weather track canter today, clocking 32.1s and 25.5s (57.6s) for 800m.
Assistant trainer Shun Takano said: “From the way he moved, I could really feel how well he’s doing. He has settled even more compared to yesterday as he becomes accustomed to the surroundings, and he’s progressing smoothly both mentally and physically. We plan to give him a workout on the all-weather track tomorrow (Wednesday, 14 December).”
LONGINES Hong Kong Mile
Docklands
Cantered for a circuit of the all-weather track under work rider Michael Vokins.
Harry Eustace’s stable representative, Laura Pike, said: “He ran a great race (last start) and has settled in very well, taking everything in his stride.
“He had a wide draw (last start) and it’s very hard for a horse that’s not particularly quick out of the gates, but he ran his race and finished well. He deserved his Group 1 at Royal Ascot, which is his favourite track. He had some hard races before he came here last year, and I’m quietly confident about how he is compared with last year.
“Hollie Doyle is going to come and ride him on the grass tomorrow and hopefully he’ll be ready for the weekend.”
Embroidery
Enjoyed an easy canter on the all-weather track.
Kazutomo Mori’s assistant trainer, Takafumi Konishi, said: “Compared to the first day, she has relaxed quite a bit and is getting used to the environment. There’s nothing concerning about her physical condition. She’s also adapted well to the quarantine barn – she’s a very smart filly. We cool her down in the shaded paddock area. The surroundings of the barn are concrete, and since she has relatively delicate shoes, the paddock is a much safer and easier place for her to walk after training. We plan to give her a steady workout on Thursday.”
Soul Rush
After loosening him up lightly in the trotting ring, he was taken to the track for a half-lap of trot work. From there, he did one easy lap of canter, then came home on the second lap. After that, he went around once more at an easy pace to cool down.
Yasutoshi Ikee’s assistant trainer, Yasuo Ikee, said: “He remains in great form and is full of energy.”
Beauvatier
Having arrived on the all-weather track among a gaggle of international horses, by the time they swung round into the straight, work rider Mathieu Delage had managed to find Beauvatier an uncongested slot to finish out a routine canter.
Yann Barberot’s travelling head groom, Philippine Pannier, reported: “Going out onto the track, Beauvatier was a little more wide-awake than yesterday as he now knows the place, and knew he was there to work. Mathieu said that he relaxed into it the further they went. It was a nice leg-stretch and all the signs are positive.”
LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint
Khaadem
Similar to Monday (8 December), the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (G1, 1000m) third came out first and alone to exercise, this time for a light canter on the all-weather track.
Nicola Dowell, work rider for Charlie Hills, said: “He feels great – and fresh! I’m trying to get him used to going right-handed. He’s so used to going left-handed. We just did a steady canter today (Tuesday, 9 December) and it’s just a case of trying to freshen him up now because he had a long journey over. He’s nine now so hopefully he knows what he’s doing.”
Win Carnelian
Win Carnelian had a piece of canter work on the all-weather track with jockey Kosei Miura on board, clocking 32.2s for 400m.
Miura said: “He’s used to travelling abroad, and he’s already settling into the new surroundings here, so he’s calm and feels good. We have the final gallop tomorrow, and there are no specific instructions from a trainer. I’ve been entrusted with everything. I’ll also draw the post position myself. We put plenty of work into him (before arriving), and he has maintained that good condition without any change. As for the turf, I’ve only walked on it so far, but the cushion feels just right to me.”
LONGINES Hong Kong Vase
Al Riffa
Similar to yesterday, the Melbourne Cup (G1, 3200m) seventh led out his stablemate Galen onto the all-weather track and the pair completed a lap of light exercise, with Docklands joining them.
Mark Power, assistant trainer to Joseph O’Brien, said: “He was good. He didn’t do anything too strenuous this morning, just a routine canter. We’ll do something similar again tomorrow (Wednesday, 10 December). He’s moving well and the lads seem happy with him.”
Eydon
Powerful individual took to the all-weather track and covered the ground nicely in a steady canter, clocking 28.0s, 28.0s and 26.6s (1.22.6) for 1200m, coming in ahead of Goliath and Sosie.
Maddy O’Meara, head lass: “I’m really happy with him.”
Goliath
Francis Graffard and his team have worked hard to find a routine that works for Goliath and, just as on Monday, he cruised around the inside rail on the all-weather track in splendid isolation, clocking closing fractions of 32.3s and 28.4s over the final 400 metres.
Sosie
Sosie had been slightly on his toes for his first encounter with the Sha Tin all-weather on Monday but, 24 hours on, he was the model of calm during a canter over one lap.
“He was a bit more composed this morning and I couldn’t be happier with how he has settled in,” said Andre Fabre’s travelling head groom, Richard Lambert. “He might have a gentle breeze on the turf on Wednesday, just to have a feel of the track.”
Urban Chic
Urban Chic went around one-and-a-half laps on the all-weather track. After that, he cooled down in the paddock.
Ryo Takei’s assistant trainer, Keigo Tsujimoto, said: “He remained calm throughout and finished his work in a relaxed manner. He was also settled and composed in the paddock with no issues.”
