Two past winners of the G1
LONGINES Hong Kong Vase will now line up for the 2400m contest on Sunday, 8
December following the inclusion of Dunaden in the field of 14.
Trainer Mikel Delzangles'
charge took the spoils in 2011 before losing his crown to the re-opposing Red
Cadeaux in 2012. The top-class seven-year-old was not among the original
selections for the race as his connections had indicated that they would not
decide on a post-Japan Cup target until they had assessed how the horse ran
there. He now heads to Sha Tin after a storming fifth behind Gentildonna in the
G1 Japan Cup last Sunday (24 November).
The French raider, winner
of the G1 Melbourne Cup in 2011 and the G1 Caulfield Cup in 2012, had his place
in the field confirmed today when the Sean Woods-trained Autumn Gold was
scratched from the race at the request of the handler.
"The intention was to
run Autumn Gold in the Vase, but I was disappointed with his run in the trial,
so have decided in conjunction with the owners that we will go down a different
path with the horse."
Autumn Gold's most recent
run brought a below-par 11th in the G2 LONGINES Jockey Club Cup on 17 November.
"Given the news about
Autumn Gold, we are delighted to be able to add a horse of the quality of
Dunaden to the LONGINES Hong Kong Vase," said Mr William A Nader,
Executive Director of Racing at the Hong Kong Jockey Club. "Dunaden is a
three-time Group 1 winner, an international star and a past winner of the Vase,
so it is great that he now has an opportunity to come back and try to reclaim
his crown - his participation further raises the standard of an already high
class Hong Kong International Races day."
In a separate development,
the Richard Gibson-trained Mizani has been scratched from the G1 LONGINES Hong
Kong Cup after being found to have bled following his participation in an
official barrier trial at Sha Tin this morning, Tuesday, 26 November.
Lone ranger Linton flies the flag for Australia at the
LONGINES HKIR
Linton's transformation from one-time stayer and Melbourne Cup contender
to top class miler will be complete should the lone Australian representative
at the LONGINES Hong Kong International Races win the Group 1 LONGINES Hong
Kong Mile at Sha Tin on Sunday 8 December.
The seven-year-old gelding will be angling for a slice of history as no
Australian horse has claimed the prize in its present guise as a G1 mile
contest - the Bart Cummings-trained Catalan Opening won the race's forerunner
in 1997, the 1400m International Bowl. Hong Kong victors have maintained a
stranglehold on the Mile since Japan's Hat Trick scored in 2005.
Linton began his career in the ownership of Lloyd Williams, as did
retired Hong Kong superstar Vengeance Of Rain, and was groomed as a stayer but
has been reinvented as a sprinter-miler since his sale last year and transfer
to Flemington trainer John Sadler.
Linton has won four of his 10 starts for Sadler and earned more than
A$1.25 million in prize money. Those victories have come at 1400m and 1600m
(two each) and include his memorable last to first win over triple G1 winner
Buffering in the G1 Stradbroke Handicap at Eagle Farm in June.
"The horse is remarkably versatile and capable over a range of
distances but I always felt that he was essentially best suited over shorter
trips," said Sadler who was in the employ of Williams when the horse began
his racing career.
Linton was a G2 winner at 2400m early in his career and contested
Americain's 2010 Melbourne Cup when he failed to handle the rain affected track
conditions and finished 21st of 23 runners.
The horse has performed well fresh for his new handler and Sadler is
confident he has well and truly overcome the temperature that forced his
scratching from the Emirates Stakes at Flemington on 9 November.
"The horse is in good shape, having a break between runs, if
anything, is a plus for him and we are looking forward to taking our chance in
Hong Kong," Sadler said.
Linton has raced just twice since winning the Stradbroke and his form is
better than the two unplaced runs beside his name might suggest. Paying the
price for his G1 win, he carried top weight of 58 kilograms, under handicap
conditions, when he resumed with a fifth behind Rebel Dane in the G1 Rupert
Clarke Stakes on 29 September.
He was posted wide throughout in that fast run 1400m sprint and was
beaten only 1.2 lengths before he raced a "touch flat" according to
his trainer when a midfield finisher in the G1 Toorak Handicap (1600m) on 12
October.
Sadler's career has taken many turns from his early G1 success in
Victoria. A career in Dubai followed where he trained privately for the Maktoum
family before his return home after a short stint in Singapore.
He is now head trainer for Malua Racing and that group's general manger
Troy Corstens credits Sadler with Linton's success.
"John insisted that we try to get hold of the horse. He wasn't
cheap but we got him and it's now proved worthwhile," Corstens said.
Some of Sadler's biggest wins include a G1 double with Lady Jakeo who
won the 1993 Blue Diamond and 1994 William Reid Stakes, the Oakleigh Plate in
1994 with Kenvain and the Turnbull Stakes in 2009 with Efficient.
Sadler played a major role in preparing 2007 Melbourne Cup winner
Efficient as assistant trainer at Lloyd Williams' Macedon Lodge and was
officially recognised as Williams' head trainer just a few days after the win.
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