THEY billed it as the greatest show on turf but the Hong Kong International meet is much more than that, reports Craig Young in the Sun-Herald.he says: It is an amazing mix of the racing world with horses from Europe, the United States, Japan and Australia travelling to take on the locals at Sha Tin today. It's a coming together, an end-of-year convention, a racing jamboree.''It's exciting just to be here,'' Sydney trainer John O'Shea said. ''I can only hope that I have a horse which is good eno

THEY billed it as the greatest show on turf but the Hong Kong International meet is much more than that, reports Craig Young in the Sun-Herald.

he says: It is an amazing mix of the racing world with horses from Europe, the United States, Japan and Australia travelling to take on the locals at Sha Tin today. It's a coming together, an end-of-year convention, a racing jamboree.

''It's exciting just to be here,'' Sydney trainer John O'Shea said. ''I can only hope that I have a horse which is good enough to come back every year. The buzz when you walk into this place is amazing.''

O'Shea has Racing To Win in the Hong Kong Mile, one of four races that have developed into a premier racing event.

Winners from Royal Ascot, Dubai, Melbourne and the Breeders Cup are among the fields for the Sprint, Mile, Cup and Vase, which are always the most diverse of the year - the Cup alone has produced winners from 10 different countries over its 22 runnings.

The Sprint is the highlight of the afternoon with nine group 1 winners, three of which were successful at the highest level at their last starts: All Silent, Total Gallery and Japan's Laurel Guerreiro. Australia's Scenic Blast and Apache Cat have also made the trip.

Scenic Blast chases a $US1 million bonus after winning the Lightning Stakes and Newmarket Handicap in Melbourne earlier this year before taking out the King's Stand at Royal Ascot.

''It is just exciting to be part of something like [the bonus],'' Scenic Blast's trainer, Dan Morton, said. ''I'd like to think he's not far off where he was in England, but having said that he has been up for a long time now and we have to remember that.''

Apache Cat returns to Sha Tin after running third to Inspiration and Green Birdie, which are both backing up in the race this year. However, Patinack Farm Classic winner All Silent is probably the best hope of an Australian victory, with the six-year-old in career-best form.

He was simply devastating in Melbourne and has arrived in similar order. His trainer, Grahame Begg, has already taken out the Bowl, a forerunner to this day, twice with Monopolize in 1995 and 1996.

''He is the same as we had him in Melbourne,'' Begg said. ''The barrier [14] doesn't help but he was always going to get back and we just have to hope for a clear run, so he can show his best.''