Grandera on course for Hong Kong winner

Grandera will head Godolphin’s three-strong team on Hong Kong International Races Day at Sha Tin next month.

The four-year-old will be crowned World Series Racing champion win or lose following the US Group One Hong Kong Cup over 10 furlongs on turf on December 15.

Having raced in six countries this season and successful in three Group Ones, Grandera was a fast-finishing third to Northerly in the Group One Carlton Draught Cox Plate at Moonee Valley in Australia last month.

Noverre will contest the $1.8m (€1.8m) Group One Hong Kong Mile on turf, having finished third in the Group One Emirates Airline Champion Stakes at Newmarket.

Ekraar is set to line-up in the Group One Hong Kong Vase over 12 furlongs on turf for the second year running – the five-year-old just failing by a head to hold the challenge of Stay Gold.

Grandera is already at Sha Tin while his stablemates are currently training in Dubai and are due to leave for Hong Kong in early December, according to the Godolphin web-site.

All three, trained by Saeed din Suroor, will be ridden by Frankie Dettori.

A total of 37 horses from 11 different jurisdictions have been selected for the four major races including eight from Britain it was announced on the Hong Kong Jockey Club’s website.

David Elsworth’s Indian Creek and Ulundi, trained by Paul Webber, join Grandera in the Hong Kong Cup.

In the Hong Kong Mile, Gerard Butler’s Nayyir, the Amanda Perrett-trained Tillerman and Gateman from Mark Johnston’s stable, have been invited.

Mubtaker, trained by Marcus Tregoning, joins Ekraar in the Hong Kong Vase - the five-year-old having missed the Breeders’ Cup Turf at Arlington last month because of coughing.

While in the Hong Kong Sprint, Continent and Malhub could fly the flag for Britain as this five-furlong race is upgraded to Group One status for the first time.