Swinbank favours Hong Kong for Collier

Collier Hill could head to Hong Kong in December in search of more rich pickings to add to the £1m (€1.5m) he has already netted.

The eight-year-old has earned prize money with jaunts from Ireland to Germany to Dubai, and his globetrotting is set to continue.

The Hong Kong Vase at Sha Tin in December, won by Ouija Board last year, is being considered after a representative from the Hong Kong Jockey Club visited Alan Swinbank’s stables in North Yorkshire to discuss the possibility.

“They want him to go to Hong Kong in December for the mile and a half race there,” said the Richmond-based handler.

“The Hong Kong rep has been to see the horse and they’d love to see him out there. All being well he’ll go to Cologne on August 13 and then we’ll have to see. It will be either Hong Kong or Australia (for the Melbourne Cup), although Hong Kong looks the favourite.

“He’s in the Irish St Leger (which he won last year) but I don’t want to overdo him and I’ve got another horse, Ouninpohja, who could go for it.”

Ouninpohja has been a nearly horse this campaign, finishing runner-up in all his four starts, the latest being in the Old Newton Cup at Haydock.

“He’s earned going on for £36,000 (€53,000) from four races this year and not won one,” said Swinbank.

“He’s in the Ebor Handicap at York next month and he’ll nearly have top weight but it’s such a close handicap you’d have to take a chance with him. His main target would be the Stockholm Cup which is on the second Sunday in September and maybe the Irish Leger.”