Prince Of Arran continues his international adventure on Sunday in the Group 1 Longines Hong Kong Vase (1m4f) and trainer Charlie Fellowes is hoping that his stable star will have luck on his side in this year’s contest.
The six-year-old ran in the 2018 race, won by the Tony Cruz-trained Exultant, and was drawn wide in stall 14 before hanging left, which put paid to his chances.
Fellowes said: “Hopefully it’ll be slightly different this year. A bit like last year everything so far has gone perfectly as he’s got there well and seems fit and healthy.
“He’s an amazing horse and for someone as early on in their career as me to get an opportunity to train a horse like him is really special.
“There’s going to be a big old hole in our yard when he retires in good health at whatever point that is. He’s six years old, he’ll be seven next year and hopefully there’s still a few more years in him yet.”
Prince Of Arran will be partnered once again by Michael Walker, who has ridden the gelding when he has raced in Australia. The pair combined in last month’s Melbourne Cup to finish third past the post before being promoted to second.
Of their partnership continuing at Sha Tin, Fellowes added: “Michael knows him better than anyone and we’re really happy that he’s gone over to Hong Kong to ride him.
Prince Of Arran (blue and red striped cap) contests last month’s Melbourne Cup won by Vow And Declare (white and orange) – Photo: Bronwen Healy
“He loves the horse and believes in the horse, which is really important. Their record is incredible together and hopefully long may that last.”
The 14-runner field for the Hong Kong Vase also includes the British raiders Aspetar, trained by Roger Charlton, and William Haggas’ Young Rascal, who will be ridden by Frankie Dettori, fresh from being crowned the Longines World’s Best Jockey for 2019.
Willie Mullins’ True Self, who missed the cut for the Melbourne Cup, warmed up for this event with success in the Group 3 Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Flemington last month and is joined in the race by the Aidan O’Brien-trained duo Anthony Van Dyck and Mount Everest.
Hong Kong’s flagship meeting also features the Longines Hong Kong Sprint (6f) where the John Moore-trained Aethero can continue his exciting run of performances having dismissed one of his opponents, Hot King Prawn, by two lengths in a Group 2 over course and distance last month.
Moore and jockey Zac Purton combine with Beauty Generation in the Longines Hong Kong Mile as they bid for a hat-trick of victories in the Group 1 event. One of the stars of the Hong Kong racing scene will have to find his best form having finished third on his last two starts.
Among his nine opponents is the Sir Michael Stoute-trained Zaaki, who progressed this season to win the Diomed Stakes and the Strensall Stakes – both Group 3s. This is a significantly sterner test for four-year-old and he will have to improve again to have a chance of winning.
The final top-level contest on Sha Tin’s card on Sunday is the Longines Hong Kong Cup (1m2f) where the Aidan O’Brien-trained Magic Wand looks the star act among the field of eight. The daughter of Galileo gained her Group 1 breakthrough in the Mackinnon Stakes at Flemington last month.
