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#1
04-03-2007, 05:35 PM
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Audemars Piguet Queen Elizabeth II Cup
Updates, etc.
From the South China Morning Post..... Gonna be a great race! Tuesday, April 3, 2007 Admire Moon ready to take on Vengeance in clash of champions MURRAY BELL Japanese galloper Admire Moon, brilliant winner of the US$5 million Dubai Duty Free on Saturday night, will arrive in Hong Kong today to begin preparations for the HK$14 million Audemars Piguet Queen Elizabeth II Cup at Sha Tin on April 29. In what will be a promotional and marketing bonanza for the Jockey Club, Admire Moon will run head-to-head with Vengeance Of Rain in the international Group One race over 2,000 metres - a race Vengeance won two years ago as a four-year-old. Connections of Admire Moon are not even waiting for invitations to be issued next week, making the reasonable assumption that the last-start winner of the world's equal-richest race on turf would get a guernsey. "This is tremendous news, with the winners of the two big turf races in Dubai, Admire Moon and Vengeance Of Rain, clashing [here] at 2,000 metres," said the Jockey Club's international racing manager, Mark Player. Admire Moon and Vengeance Of Rain have already clashed once, running second and third respectively behind champion French mare Pride in the Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Cup on December 10, a result that was far from conclusive because Vengeance had so little luck in running. With a US$1 million bonus available to Admire Moon if he won the HK$8 million Champions Mile on the same day, one might have thought that would sway his owners into going for the shorter race. "I discussed that with them but they are definitely targeting the QE II," Player confirmed. The other news out of Dubai is that Bullish Luck, third to Invasor in the Dubai World Cup at 2,000 metres, will not defend his Champions Mile crown. "Tony Cruz told me he'll also be concentrating on the QE II with Bullish Luck," Player said. "After all, he does have a top Champions Mile candidate already in Floral Pegasus." Linngari, a valiant runner-up to Admire Moon in Dubai, will make his second trip to Hong Kong for the Champions Mile. Linngari finished fifth, beaten by only 2 1/4 lengths, behind The Duke and Armada in the Hong Kong Mile, after starting from barrier 13. He was even more impressive in Dubai, being forced to go back in the field from barrier 16 and hoping luck would break his way. Ultimately, Linngari (Kevin Shea) charged home late to get within a half length of Admire Moon. "This is the best horse I've ridden next to Ipi Tombe," Shea said, referring to the champion South African filly on which he won the Dubai Duty Free in 2003 by three lengths. Trainer Herman Brown concurred: "It was a game run and we are thrilled with his effort. Such a pity he couldn't get up on the line. From that draw it was a great performance." Linngari's stablemate, Sushisan, is also being aimed at the QE II. Sushisan finished three lengths from Vengeance Of Rain when fifth in the Sheema Classic and had the worst of the luck. "The German horse [Quijano] took about five of us out just after the start. Then we encountered problems all the way from there." Trainer Mike de Kock, winner of last year's QE II with Irridescence, will definitely be back but has asked for a few more days to finalise his Hong Kong team. "Mike has five or six horses he could potentially bring, including Irridescence, but he wants to give them a few days to see how they've come through their races on the weekend," Player said. 
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#4
04-04-2007, 10:39 AM
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Quote:
http://www.cxhkir.com/english/hkir20..._trackwork.asp
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#5
04-04-2007, 11:07 AM
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Quote:
__________________
Tod Marks Photo - Daybreak over Oklahoma
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#6
04-14-2007, 11:50 AM
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Thirlled O'Sullivan decided to enter Best Gift.....
http://racing.scmp.com/freeservice/n...s20070414d.asp Runners..... http://special.hkjc.com/promo/en/200..._selection.asp
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#7
04-04-2007, 10:40 AM
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Quote:
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Hybrid Mode
