Desert warms up for Sprint
Desert Lord had his first taste of the all-weather track at Sha Tin this morning as he continued his build up to the Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Sprint.
Kevin Ryan’s charge will be having just his second try in Group One company on Sunday after making a successful debut at the highest level when winning the Prix de l’Abbaye last time.
The six-year-old has progressed through the handicap ranks and he worked under regular rider John Murray, who is bullish about his charge’s prospects.
“He seems to travel well and fights that bit harder when he’s abroad. That was the best I’ve felt him today,” Murray told www.hkjc.com.
“He’ll do a zip with our stable jockey Neil Callan aboard on Thursday or Friday when the trainer has arrived.
“This horse has tremendous speed and he will love this sharp track and the fast ground. He really operates on it. I hope we get a draw between one and six. Otherwise it could be curtains.”
The Mark Wallace-trained Benbaun and Barry Hills’ Red Clubs are also set to contest the five-furlong event but they were confined to the trotting ring rather than working on the track.
Star Australian sprinter Takeover Target was also in action at Sha Tin, putting in some steady work under the watchful eye of trainer Joe Janiak.
The seven-year-old made quite an impact in Britain over the summer when he won the King’s Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot before finishing third in the Golden Jubilee Stakes just four days later.
Takeover Target has since won the Sprinters Stakes at Nakayama in Japan and Janiak is delighted with the way his preparations have gone.
“I’m pleased with him. He’s done very well since we’ve been in Hong Kong. He wasn’t quite right when we had him in England. In fact he looked shocking, didn’t really acclimatise, but he blossomed in Japan and he’s looking good here,” he said.
Takeover Target is set to have his final serious gallop on Wednesday morning on the course proper, with jockey Jay Ford aboard.
Janiak added: “One more good hit-out is all he needs.”
