Hong Kong Mile 1600m Field

[cheesebeast]

FR 124 Domedriver (IRE) P Bary
UAE 120 Noverre (USA) S bin Suroor
GB 119 Nayyir (GB) G Butler
USA 118 Decarchy (USA) R Frankel
GB 118 Tillerman (GB) Ms. A Perrett
JPN 116 Admire Cozzene (JPN) M Hashida
HK 116 Electronic Unicorn (USA) J Size
USA 116 Nuclear Debate (USA) D Vienna
GB 115 Gateman (GB) M Johnston
JPN 114 Tokai Point (JPN) Y Goto
HK 111 Olympic Express (GB) I W Allan
AUS 110 Scenic Peak (AUS) D Bougoure
HK 110 Super Molly (NUS) D Hayes
HK 108 Grand Delight (AUS) J Size

[Handy Harry]

From: InJapan2 Sent: 27/11/2002 7:12 PM
The Hong Kong Mile (Gr.1 - 1600m - US$1.8 million)

The Mile is the world's richest international mile event. Eishin Preston won last year for Japan by over three lengths. In 2002, there are 10 overseas contenders, five of whom have already won at the highest level.

Domedriver is bidding to become the first Breeders' Cup-Hong Kong Mile winner. The French-trained horse memorably lowered the colours of Rock Of Gibraltar, the winner of seven straight Gr.1 races, in the Breeders' Cup Mile last month, and he is the highest rated runner in the field.

Godolphin send Gr.1 winner Noverre into battle for the last time before he embarks on a stud career, while the British-trained trio of Nayyir, Tillerman and Gateman, each one a Pattern Race victor in 2002, are sure to make their presence felt.

The two-pronged American challenge in the Mile couples Decarchy, a Gr.2 winner prepared by Hall of Fame trainer Bobby Frankel, and Darrell Vienna's Nuclear Debate, making his fourth trip to Hong Kong, this time stepping-up to the Mile having contested the Sprint each year since 1999.

Japan's most in-form milers Admire Cozzene, who landed the Yasuda Kinen in June, and Tokai Point, the winner of the Mile Championship last month, will start, as will the recent Gr.1 Emirates Stakes winner from Australia, Scenic Peak.

Horse of the Year Electronic Unicorn heads the Hong Kong quartet. He was runner-up to Eishin Preston in this race last year. Also selected is Super Molly, the winner of his last two starts, both at HKGr.3 level, including the Chevalier Cup in which Electronic Unicorn finished fourth. As well as 'The Unicorn,' champion trainer John Size will saddle Grand Delight, the winner of the Gr.1 Emirates Stakes at Flemington in 2001, and third behind Super Molly in the Chevalier Cup on November 24. Ivan Allan's Olympic Express, victorious in two HKGr.1 events last year in the Hong Kong Derby and Hong Kong Classic Mile, will also take his chance.

[imaufo]

HKIR News : HKIR Replacement Horse - Dupont

6 December 2002

Hong Kong Mile - 1600 M (Int'l Group 1)

Dupont (GB) 3 b c

Zafonic (USA) - June Moon (IRE) (Sadler's Wells)

Trainer - William Haggas

Owner - Wentworth Racing (Pty) Ltd

Major wins - Gr.2 Italian 2000 Guineas, Gr.2 German 2000 Guineas

International Rating - 114

Form Sheet - Last Ten Starts (view/download in MS Word format)

[cheesebeast]

Nuclear Debate (Mile) has been withdrawn from the Hong Kong International Races.

The USA-trained Cayoke, by Julio Canani, has filled Nuclear Debate's place in the Mile.

Rated 114 internationally, Cayoke almost pulled off his first Gr.1 win in his most recent start, the Prix de la Foret (1400m) at Longchamp in October when he was beaten two necks by Dedication and Medecis.

He won his previous race, the Listed Prix du Pin (1400m) and finishing second in the Prix de la Porte Maillot (Gr.3-1400m) and third in the Prix du Palais-Royal (Gr.3-1400m) have provided the other highlights in 2002.

His sole Pattern success in the Gr.3 Prix de la Jonchere (1600m), was in June 2000.

[Handy Harry]

Hong Kong Mile History


The HK$14-million Hong Kong Mile (G1) is the world's richest 1600-metre turf race. Formerly known as the Hong Kong International Bowl, it had its debut in 1991, and will be run this year on Sunday, 15 December, as part of the Hong Kong International Races programme at Sha Tin Racecourse.

Consistently, the Hong Kong Mile lures many of the greatest middle-distance runners throughout the globe. Recent winners of the race include Great Britain's Docksider in 1999, New Zealand's Sunline in 2000 and Japan's Eishin Preston in 2001. Indeed, horses who have either won or placed the last three runnings of the Hong Kong Mile have represented seven countries on four continents. It is truly an international showcase.

When first run the Hong Kong International Bowl had a purse of HK$2-million and a distance of 1400 metres. The initial winner was the Moyglare Stud colour bearer, Additional Risk, who scored by 1 3/4 lengths under jockey Mick Kinane at the generous odds of 33/1. Dermot Weld was the victorious trainer.

Additional Risk remains the longest-priced horse to ever win the race. But other longshots have fared well, too: Glen Cate won the Hong Kong International Bowl at 24/1 odds when it was next renewed in April, 1993 (the race was actually run twice that year, in April and December). Monopolize won at 11/1 odds in 1995, then registered a repeat victory at 5/1 odds in 1996. He remains the only horse to have twice won the race, in consecutive years or otherwise.

France's Jim And Tonic, one of the most popular horses to ever race in Hong Kong, was an upset winner of the 1998 Hong Kong International Bowl. The following year, Jim And Tonic was triumphant in the Hong Kong Cup (G1), which is the centerpiece of International Races Day. Jim And Tonic is the only horse to have won two different Hong Kong International Races.

In 1999, the Hong Kong International Bowl was lengthened to its current distance and renamed the Hong Kong Mile. Docksider, under Olivier Peslier, matched Additional Risk's standard for the largest margin of victory in the race, clocking a final time of 1.34.70. In 2000, Sunline, under Gregory Childs, established a new stakes-record time of 1:34.20, which continues to stand.
But Eishin Preston, triumphant in last year's Hong Kong Mile under Yuichi Fukunaga, set a new standard for the largest margin of victory - - 3 1/4 lengths. He also pulled down a lion's share of a purse that is now six times higher then when the race was first run 11 years ago.

Mick Kinane, who followed his victory aboard Additional Risk in '91 with another on Winning Partners in December, 1993, is one of the two jockeys to have twice won the Hong Kong International Bowl/Hong Kong Mile. The other is Darren Beadman, with his back-to-back victories aboard Monopolize in '96 and Catalan Opening in 1997.

Grahame Begg, who trained Monopolize, is the only conditioner with a pair of International Bowl/Mile victories. Trainers with one triumph apiece include the aforementioned Weld, Bill Shoemaker, Sir Michael Stoute, Bart Cummings, Francois Doumen, Trevor McKee and Shuji Kitahashi - - a venerable "Who's Who" of internationally renowned horsemen.


HKJC News

[Handy Harry]

Monday, 9 December 2002: Godolphin Group One winner Noverre will attempt to end his racing career in style by winning the Hong Kong International Mile at Sha Tin on Sunday.

The son of Rahy will be having his final start before he retires to stand under the Darley banner in Ireland with the possibility of becoming an Australian shuttle sire.

Noverre will be a top class rival for Australian candidate Scenic Peak in the Hong Kong Mile.

The four-year-old finished third in G1 Champion Stakes at Neamrket at his latest start in October.

He was also third in the G1 Juddmonte International at York in August and second to Rock Of Gibraltar in Goodwood's G1 Sussex Stakes, a race he won in 2001.

New additions to the Hong Kong Mile are UK-trained Dupont, who has been invited to replace Decarchy, and Cayoke, who replaces Nuclear Debate.

Dupont, trained by William Haggas, won the G1 Premio Parioli (Italian 2000 Guineas) in Rome and the G2 Mehl-Mulhens-Rennen (German 2000 Guineas) in Cologne before finishing fourth behind Rock of Gibraltar in the G1 St James' Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot in June.

Cayoke, trained by Julio Canani, was third in the G1 Prix de la Foret at his last start in October.

Noverre and stablemate Ekraar arrived in Hong Kong on Saturday, joining stable companion Grandera who was flown from Melbourne last month.

Ekraar will bid to go one better than his second placing in last year’s Hong Kong Vase while Grandera has an unbeateblae lead for the World Racing Championship going into the Hong Kong Cup.

Other European challengers to arrtive in Hong Kong over the weekend included Aquarelliste), Agnetha, Continent, Dano-Mast and Paolini.

However the Marcus Tregoning-trained Mubtaker did not make the trip for the Vase after disappointing track gallops last week.

His place has been taken by the locally-trained Rainbow And Gold winner of this year’s Centenary Vase at Sha Tin.



http://news.bbc.co.uk/olmedia/1465000/images/_1468978_noverre300.jpg

Noverre...

He's a very brave horse and very tough," said Sheikh Mohammed.
"I think he is the best miler in Europe," he said, after watching the 9-2 chance come late to score a convincing success from 7-2 shot No Excuse Needed with 3-1 favourite Black Minnaloushe third in the Sussex Stakes at Glorious Goodwood.

[imaufo]

NOVERRE ENJOYS SHA TIN SPIN
By Robert Pratt, PA Sport

Godolphin's Noverre warmed up for Sunday's Hong Kong International Mile at Sha Tin with a light canter on Wednesday.

British hope Nayyir did not come out on to the track on Wednesday morning. Trainer Gerald Butler reported that the horse had not eaten up so he gave him a quiet day.

Maureen Haggas, wife of William Haggas, trainer of Dupont supervised the three -year-old's first appearance on the all-weather and he did only a steady canter in his new surroundings.

The horse looked very well and is expected to breeze tomorrow when his trainer will be at Sha Tin.

Fellow British raider Tillerman cantered on the dirt for the first time since arriving under trainer Amanda Perrett's husband Mark.

"He is just going steady today, he is very bright and has taken it all really well," she said.

Deirdre Johnston, wife of trainer Mark, was overseeing the preparation of another British runner in Gateman.

"He's great - touch wood. No big plans with him, just keep him ticking over," Mrs Johnston said.

[imaufo]

Scenic Peak, stablemate of Falvelon and Australia's representative in the Hong Kong Mile, drew the outside in barrier 13 for the $3.5m race.

Bougoure said jockey Dan Nikolic would be committed to pressing forward into the lead group and would be better served out deep than trying to hunt through near the inside to hold a place.

"They keep telling me there is no natural speed in the race but it will be a fast-run race. They always go hard here in the mile races," Bougoure said.

He said Scenic Peak would have been an emotional mess without Falvelon travelling with him to Hong Kong and has been thrilled with the last start Group I winner's disposition.

Just days after Domedriver was withdrawn from the Mile, another leading contender was forced out by sickness yesterday.

Nayyir was scratched after going off his feed and developing a temperature.

Godolphin entrant Noverre is shaping as the major stumbling block for Scenic Peak and will challenge local entry and last year's runner-up Electronic Unicorn for favouritism.

[Handy Harry]

Cayoke shows improvement in work for Honk Kong Mile

Cayoke (Fr), making his first start for trainer Julio Canani, will try to muscle the field in the $1.8-million Hong Kong Mile (HK-G1) on Sunday at Sha Tin Racecourse.


Cayoke, a recent arrival from France in Julio Canani’s barn in Southern California, missed by only half a length when finishing third in the Prix de la Foret (Fr-G1) on October 13 in his previous race. The Group 3 winner in France will be making his first start for Canani in the Hong Kong Mile, but Canani, who is sick, will be watching from home as Hubert Guy, racing manager for owner Michael House, saddles the horse.

Jockey Christophe Soumillon has been aboard Cayoke for his morning works and noticed a change in the five-year-old son of Always Fair since riding him two years ago in France.

"He’s much more muscled now," said Soumillon, who won his first race in Hong Kong on Wednesday--his first night since moving his tack here. "I took him out for a steady canter, and he likes the footing here. He prefers fast ground, and it looks like we’re getting that."

Godolphin Racing’s Noverre is making his final race in the Hong Kong Mile, his 12th consecutive contest at the Grade/Group 1 level. Always a hard trying horse, his five-furlong work on Thursday was a steady, workmanlike blow as he is already fit for Sunday. He comes off a third place finish behind Storming Home in the Champion Stakes (Eng-G1) at Newmarket.

Gerard Butler’s Victor Chandler Stakes (Eng-G2) winner Nayyir continues to suffer from a temperature and was withdrawn from consideration for the Hong Kong Mile.

—K. T. Donovan

[Handy Harry]

Fortune Shines On Hayes Pair

December 13, 2002



Trainer David Hayes could not hide his delight after the barrier draws at Sha Tin racecourse yesterday for Sunday's International Races threw up ideal slots for his Hong Kong Sprint fancy All Thrills Too and Super Molly, who runs in the Mile. But the Mile draw was less kind to Hong Kong's leading hope Electronic Unicorn, with trainer John Size and jockey Robbie Fradd set a poser after coming up with barrier one.

The Sprint draw basically split the 14-runner field into a Hong Kong/Australia division in the low numbers and the "Rest of the World" on the stands' side, but Hayes was happy with barrier two for All Thrills Too. He said he expected the field would not split into inside and outside divisions on the Sha Tin A course, giving the inside horses a positive.

"There's no advantage to being out wide in the draw when it's the A track - you have to give away too much ground if you go to the outside rail," Hayes said. "All Thrills Too is drawn right next to Falvelon, who must be one of the horses to beat, and they have good speed immediately next to them with Anabatik, Mistegic and Firebolt in the three gates to the left. All Thrills Too can just sit back off them and come with a rush."

Falvelon, the Hong Kong Sprint winner from gates four and five in the past two years, came up with barrier one this time and trainer Dan Bougoure was not too unhappy. "I had hoped to be closer to the middle but the race is early on the card, so you would think there'd be nothing wrong with the ground on the inside and we've got the right jockey in Damien Oliver. The horses tend to fan across the track at the finish of this race, so a run should come for him," Bougoure said.

The Japanese runners Believe (14) and Shonan Kampf (10) drew towards the outside, along with British hope Continent (11) and American sprinter Texas Glitter (13). Tetshide Kunimoto, the owner of Shonan Kampf, said: "The 10th position is what I wanted, so I am very lucky."

Alex Greaves, wife of Continent's trainer David Nicholls, said: "He's inclined to miss the break, but there is speed all over, so he should get a decent lead and will be doing his best work at the end."

Hayes was also happy with barrier eight for Super Molly in the Mile. "Super Molly will be looking to be smothered up off the pace and right in the middle of the draw is probably an assistance for that. I do think that in races of this quality, you need to race with cover. You need every possible thing in your favour and both my horses should be able to get cover from their draws."

While Hayes was smiling, Size said Electronic Unicorn's gate one in the Mile would not have been his first preference, with the potential for last year's runner-up to be cluttered up on the inside.

"He had four and ran well last year, but I probably would have preferred to be out closer to the middle. I certainly wouldn't have chosen barrier one myself," Size said. "By the same token, I did say to our jockey Robbie Fradd that it is amazing how often you come out with a barrier that you don't want and it ends up working in your favour."

Size's other runners, Grand Delight (Mile) and Dr More (Cup), drew more favourably, however. "Dr More is a little bit in no man's land in seven but at least he has five or six horses on his outside," Size said. "Ideally, he could get a trail there with a horse on the outside and one on his inside and that would be okay. It sure could have been worse for a horse that we know is going to need cover.

"Probably Grand Delight's 10 draw is not too bad. I don't know what Shane Dye thinks about it, but from my point of view it seems that Grand Delight can get handy from there without having any pressure on him to hold the lead and Shane can have a look at how the race unfolds."

Japanese raider Admire Cozzene is a potential leader in the Mile from barrier two, while compatriot Tokai Point drew gate six. American challenger Cayoke has barrier seven, between Tokai Point and Super Molly, but owner Michael House said: "The post position doesn't really matter to us. We're more concerned with the quality of the ground. He wants it firm and he should get that here."

British hope Dupont drew nine, but trainer William Haggas said: "It doesn't really matter where you draw - if you go fast enough you can win. But it's better out in nine where there's a bit of space." Hong Kong Cup favourite Grandera emerged with tricky barrier eight in the 2,000-metre showpiece, but trainer Saeed Bin Suroor was "satisfied" with the gate and was more inclined to wish for a true pace and good going than a low marble.

"If there is a good pace, the ground is good and he can find a nice position, I will be happy. I'm satisfied with the draw for all of my runners," he said after stablemates Noverre and Ekraar drew four and seven respectively in the Mile and Vase. Eishin Preston, who goes for the Cup after winning the Mile last year, was drawn nine with Japan Cup runner-up Sarafan in barrier six.

The American hope is likely to sit third or fourth behind the speed and Sarafan's handler Robert Guest said: "We're very happy. We'll drop him in just off the speed, so stall six is ideal."

German trainer Andreas Wohler was delighted with the inside barrier for Paolini. "We're very lucky with number one, but I hope I haven't used up all my luck before the race," he said. "When Silvano won the QE II Cup here for me last year, he was drawn 12, so you never know, but we should be able to save some ground around the inside."

Likely Vase favourite Aquarelliste struck a slight snag in gate 10, while the Eric Libaud-trained Ange Gabriel drew perfectly in four. "We are satisfied with that. We would like a lead, but if we don't get one we will be happy to make the pace," Libaud said. The Sean Woods-trained Idol, the expected pacesetter in the Vase, drew barrier three.


http://horseracingmagazine.com/images/Hayes(1).jpg

[Handy Harry]

The Hong Kong Mile – selections and reasons


Some very good horse will contest the mile with Aussie rep Scenic Peak facing his biggest task to date. Wouldn't surprise to see put up an excellent performance but this field appears to be a little bit too classy for him.

Selections:
1 Noverre
2 Tillerman
3 Admire Cozzene

Noverre
Rahy (USA) – Danseur Fabuleux (USA)
Trainer Saeed bin Suroor

One of the better Godolphin horses in Hong Kong, along with stablemate Grandera.
Very free striding stallion who has a liquid action when galloping.
This year has performed well with a second in the Dubai Duty Free at Nad Al Sheba, second behind Keltos in the Lockinge Stakes at Newbury and then an impressive second to Rock Of Gibraltar in the Sussex Stakes at Goodwood.
Effective from 1600m- 2000m and has been working the house down since he arrived

Tillerman
In The Wings – Autumn Tint (USA)
Trainer Amanda Perrett

Can be his own worst enemy as he is generally tardy at the start but he is tough and always puts in once the race is underway.
Won over the mile in August when finishing a neck in front of R Hughes in the Celebration Mile at Goodwood and like Noverre has been working well in this week’s lead-up.

Admire Cozzene
Cozzene (USA) – Admire McArdy (JPN)
Trainer M Hashida
Japanese Champion two year-old in 1998.
Went off the scene after inury and didn’t return until he was a four year-old.
It’s taken a long time for him to return to his early form but is once again showing promise.
Won his last start over 1600m when beating Dantsu Flame HGoto by a neck in June.
He’s a very tough character and deserves a chance at the highest level. Wouldn’t surprise to see him fighting out the finish.

By: Jo Adams - Saturday, 14 December 2002

[Handy Harry]

THE MILE

TOKAI POINT confirmed preference for this distance when prevailed over Eishin Preston in Japan's feature mile at Kyoto a month ago.

ELECTRONIC UNICORN was runner-up last year. Local runner primed for this race.

NOVERRE hasn't tasted victory since Goodwood in August. Last run before going to stud.

GATEMAN went down narrowly behind subsequent Breeders Cup winner Domedriver at Longchamp in October.

ADMIRE COZZENE won the group one Yasuda Kinen over this distance at Tokyo in June.

SUPER MOLLY has won nine from 24 in Hong Kong.

BOTTOM LINE

Many chances. Tokai Point is at the top of his game and from gate six should get the perfect run.

Back him and couple him with 1, 3, 4, 5 and 10 in exotics.

Selections
1 Tokai Point
2 Electronic Unicorn
3 Noverre
4 Gateman
:) :D :) :D :) :D

[Handy Harry]

Olympic Express upsets the lot of them

The forgotten and unwanted horse in the betting ring, Olympic Express, proved everybody wrong tonight when he scored a stunning victory in the Hong Kong Mile (G1).

Sent out at 48/1, he ran right over the top of them to win the mile in a time of 1.34.9. Ridden by Weichong Marwing, Olympic Express went to the lead 200m from home, and was strong enough to hold out the fast finishing, Electronic Unicorn, who finished second under Robbie Fradd.

Electronic Unicorn was a head better than Japan's Tokai Point, who finished third.

For the second time this day, Hong Kong horses were one-two in a Hong Kong International Race setting a precedent for local success that few had felt was possible tonight.

"I gave him a real chance," said trainer Ivan Allan. "Even though he had only the one run, he'd had the right work, and he was pleasing me coming into the race.

"Olympic Express came into the race a fresh horse, and he gets the mile well," said jockey Marwing. "He traveled so well for me.
"I knew I had a great chance entering the straight as I saw I was going better than Super Molly, a horse that was quite fancied. It's incredible, a great feeling."

Danny Nikolic, rider of the Australian representative Scenic Peak said:"He was three-deep the entire trip. "The effort had to tell and it did. It was a really good, tough, honest run."


http://www.racenet.com.au/breeding/news_images/mile_OE_finish.jpg

[imaufo]

Olympic Express takes Mile for the home team


by Nick Pulford



FORMER British handicapper Olympic Express completed a remarkable rise to the top level with a surprise win in the Group 1 Hong Kong Mile at Sha Tin on Sunday.

The Ivan Allan-trained gelding, who was known as Ecclesiastical in Britain, held on by a neck in a tight finish to land the £1.1 million contest at odds of 48-1. Electronic Unicorn was runner-up for the second successive year to complete a Hong Kong 1-2, while Japan's Tokai Point and Admire Cozzene came home third and fourth respectively.

Dupont fared best of the British trio in seventh place, with Tillerman 10th and Gateman last of the 12 runners. Noverre, having his last race for Godolphin before going to stud, went off even-money favourite but could finish only eighth.

Olympic Express, who won this year's Hong Kong Derby, has been plagued by leg problems in recent months and Allan said his participation had been in doubt leading up to the race.

"I worked him on Tuesday and it looked like the leg would flare up again, so I daren't work him again, but my staff worked overtime to get him to the race," the trainer said.

"They worked in rotation to keep the leg iced and I think I will have the biggest water bill in Hong Kong!"

Olympic Express raced in Britain as Ecclesiastical, finishing second in the 2001 Britannia Handicap at Royal Ascot on the last of his five outings for James Fanshawe. He has now won three of his eight starts for Allan, including the Hong Kong Derby over 10 furlongs, and the trainer said he had always been hopeful that the four-year-old would find plenty of improvement.

Allan said: "I bought him with the Hong Kong Derby as the first aim, but I have just taken him a stage at a time and he has kept on improving. I thought I had a real star on my hands after he won his first race for me and I'm not frightened to take on the top horses. This was a good field today, with Noverre and the top two milers from Japan, and he won well."

Allan, who bought Olympic Express on behalf of owner Larry Yung, said his first choice from the Fanshawe yard had been Grandera. "I tried to buy Grandera, but they wouldn't name a price, and then Godolphin came in with big money," he said. "I liked Ecclesiastical, but I thought they wanted too much money. I asked the owner and he told me to buy the horse if I wanted him, so I took the chance."

Olympic Express quickened well to lead inside the final furlong but was tiring close home and only just held on from Electronic Unicorn, with Tokai Point a head back in third and Admire Cozzene beaten the same distance in fourth.

Electronic Unicorn's jockey Robbie Fradd, runner-up on the same horse last year and on the Allan-trained Fairy King Prawn in 2000, was philosophical after completing a hat-trick of second places. The South African rider said: "I have no excuses really and credit to Olympic Express because he fought on well. Another 50 yards and I would have got him, but that's racing. Second place is better than last."

Noverre was very disappointing in his final race and jockey Frankie Dettori said: "He ran flat. It's come at the end of another long, hard season for him."

Dupont was the only hard-luck story among the British raiders after finishing seventh despite missing the start. Trainer William Haggas said: "I'm disappointed because we never got a run. He missed the break and was running on at the end."

Tillerman never got into the race from his wide draw and jockey Richard Hughes said: "No joy for me. He ran very free early and I think he might have been feeling the ground."

Gateman disputed the lead until the turn but faded in the straight and finished well adrift in last place. Jockey Keith Dalgleish said: "He was beaten a long way out and he didn't let himself down. He needs cut in the ground."

[Steppin Short]

Ivan wasn't crying because Olympic Express had just won....He was so pissed off he didn't get any of the 48/1 the horse paid.
He loves a bet but missed this one.