In fact track work for the international horses was delayed by over half an hour as there was lightning around when you could see it.

Some of the Japanese horses did parade ring schooling and it was a good lesson for them as the rain on the roof was deafening. The most interest in the morning was in the press conferences post trackwork.  These started off with Pierre Ng who in only his second season as a trainer currently leads the championship. He will saddle Galaxy Patch who was second in the recent Hong Kong Derby and according to Ng should be able to handle a wet track as he had experienced that when in Australia.  The horse is now fully recovered from his exertions in the Derby and will appreciate the drop in trip back to the mile, with the Derby winner Massive Sovereign going up in trip.

David Hall saddles both Flying Ace and Invincible Spirit in the Sprint.  Invincible Spirit is a horse who keeps improving and can handle the wet but he expects that California Spangle and Victor The Winner will be in the front.  Flying Ace may have to go back coming from gate 8 which is not the best position for him as if he had drawn better he could be in the front runners.  Hall has been training in Hong Kong for 20 years now and says he still enjoys it.

George Boughey has brought the talented filly Believing.  They decided to skip Dubai and come to Hong Kong and while the filly would probably have to lift and would prefer a drier track, she has improved her starting and if she breaks well could lead.  The trainer mentioned that with the current prize money situation in England you had to travel horses in order to make ends meet.

Yoshimura-sensei said that they had been delighted with the win of Obanburumai in the Golden Eagle as they hadn't realised that it was worth so much money!  Their return in the Doncaster Mile was disappointing but the conditions were awful and the track sticky whereas at Sha Tin even with the rain it didn't feel that the horses would have as much work to get their feet out of the ground.  He thought the Mile will be a very tough race but he was confident that Obamburumai was ready.  Damian Lane will take the ride.