MELBOURNE Cup winner Americain continues to gain glowing reports for his work and condition in Hong Kong and has been installed as the early favourite for Sunday's group 1, $1.8 million Hong Kong Vase at Sha Tin, reports The Age. It says: The hulking French horse, who won the 150th Melbourne Cup four weeks ago, has coped well with his flights from London to Melbourne and then to Hong Kong as well as the stringent quarantine protocols, said handler Serge Renee.''Americain is here for a long time
MELBOURNE Cup winner Americain continues to gain glowing reports for his work and condition in Hong Kong and has been installed as the early favourite for Sunday's group 1, $1.8 million Hong Kong Vase at Sha Tin, reports The Age.
It says: The hulking French horse, who won the 150th Melbourne Cup four weeks ago, has coped well with his flights from London to Melbourne and then to Hong Kong as well as the stringent quarantine protocols, said handler Serge Renee.
''Americain is here for a long time and he's done very well,'' he told the Hong Kong Jockey Club website yesterday. ''He has succeeded over longer distances than the Vase's 2400 metres but I would not worry too much about it. I would be more concerned about the firm ground. It was very soft in Australia.''
All English bookmakers have marked Americain as favourite at around $4 to become the first Melbourne Cup winner to also win at the Hong Kong International meeting. Only 1999 Melbourne Cup winner Rogan Josh has attempted the double in the Hong Kong Vase but he finished fifth.
Much more is expected of Americain. ''I think he's still maturing,'' his trainer Alain de Royer-Dupre said this week. ''He's five years old [by northern hemisphere time] but I think there is plenty to come.''
The final acceptances and barrier draws for the four international races will be taken tomorrow morning.