Ouija on course for Hong Kong test

Ouija Board is still on target for her swansong in the Hong Kong Vase on December 10 after her gallant run in the Japan Cup at the weekend.

Ed Dunlop’s brilliant mare finished third behind Deep Impact in Tokyo and connections stated she is set to bring the curtain down on her fantastic career with a repeat victory at Sha Tin.

Ouija Board beat the likes of Westerner, Shamdala, Cherry Mix and Warrsan in the Vase 12 months ago.

And despite running for a ninth time this year at the weekend, connections were again amazed at her unbelievable constitution.

“It was another great effort and she was beaten by what I would consider to be the best turf horse in the world – and I don’t think there is any disgrace in that,” said Peter Stanley, racing manager to Ouija Board’s owner Lord Derby.

“It wasn’t like she was laid out for the Japan Cup by any means, she has had to run in a few on the way there but, as usual, she gave it her very best.

“The amazing thing about her is that she actually seems to thrive on all the travelling. The secret to her success is that she doesn’t just tolerate the travelling she thrives on it.

“She soon perks up when she gets to her new surroundings and she has a look around and just gets on with life.

“She is happier travelling by plane than she ever is in a horsebox and that is the truth because she is not the best traveller in a horsebox, which is quite amusing considering her exploits.

“The last I heard was that everything was fine and dandy and if she is up to it, we will go to Hong Kong and if she’s not, we won’t.

“One thing we could never be accused of is dodging an issue and we’ve never been scared off by anything but equally would not want to run her if everything wasn’t right and she wasn’t telling us she was alright.

“But it would be lovely to have one more run and go out on a high.”