Sir Alex Ferguson’s star horse set to chase another massive payday in £4 million Hong Kong race
SIR ALEX FERGUSON’S money-making machine Spirit Dancer is set to continue his global tour in Hong Kong.
The Richard Fahey-trained seven-year-old won the Bahrain International Trophy for the second year in a row last week, taking his career earnings through the £2 million barrier.
And Sir Alex’s home-bred is on course to run in the £4 million Hong Kong Cup at Sha Tin on December 8 following the latest entry stage.
He is set to be joined in the ten furlong Cup, which is one of four international Group 1s in Hong Kong early next month, by Andrew Balding’s The Foxes, who was supplemented for the race yesterday.
He beat Dubai Honour in the Listed Churchill Stakes at Newcastle last weekend, and that rival is on course to run in the £2.4 million Hong Kong Vase over a mile and a half at the same meeting.
The Marco Botti-trained Giavellotto, who won the Group 2 Princess Of Wales’s Stakes at Newmarket earlier in the year, has also been trained towards the Vase since finishing third in the Irish St Leger in September.
Ralph Beckett has supplemented his Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint hero Starlust for the Hong Kong Sprint, though he looks to have a tough task on his hands given the recent performances of the monstrous Ka Ying Rising.
And Harry Eustace’s Queen Anne runner-up Docklands, who had a brief campaign in Australia, will run in the Hong Kong Mile.
Aidan O’Brien will also be sending a team of runners to the Far East next month.
Luxembourg is expected to have the final run of his career in the Vase before retiring to stud.
He will likely be joined by last year’s St Leger winner Continuous, while Yorkshire Oaks winner Content and rapidly improving filly Wingspan are likely to run over a mile and a quarter in the Cup.
The Hong Kong Jockey Club’s Andrew Harding said: “The LONGINES Hong Kong International Races are one of the most important racing events on the global calendar and this year we look forward to hosting a decorated line-up from many corners of the globe.
“We are excited by the quality of selected runners for this year’s International Races and the presence of so many of the stars is in keeping with our long-held commitment to deliver sporting excellence.
“With the selection of 56 elite horses the stage is now set for the 2024 Hong Kong International Races and an exhilarating afternoon of sporting action on 8 December at Sha Tin. We look forward to once again welcoming the titans of world racing to our beautiful city.”
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