Widely travelled weight for age star Side Glance has arrived in Hong Kong in top order as he prepares for the Group 1 HK$22m Longines Hong Kong Cup (2000m) at Sha Tin on December 8.
Side Glance goes to Hong Kong after winning the G1 Mackinnon Stakes at Flemington. Photo by Race Horse Photos Australia.
Hong Kong will be the fifth country in which Side Glance has competed in the last twelve months and goes to Sha Tin a Group 1 winner after leading most of the way for Irish jockey Jamie Spencer to win the $1m Longines Mackinnon Stakes (2000m) at Flemington on November 2.
David Redvers, Racing Manager for Pearl Bloodstock who race Side Glance, has reported that the Passing Glance gelding is in top order as he touched down for his Hong Kong assignment.
“He did his final piece of work on Friday morning and is in great order,” Redvers told the Hong Kong Jockey Club Racing News.
“We go to Hong Kong in top form and I think it’s exactly the right race for him. We just need to hope we get a reasonable draw and then we will leave the rest to Jamie .”
“He won the Mackinnon Stakes well and I was delighted with his performance. He ran a bit fresh when sixth in the Cox Plate because it was his first run for a while, but that put him spot on for the Mackinnon and he won in the style of a much better horse than the opposition.”
Side Glance, who is prepared by English trainer Andrew Balding, arrived in Hong Kong with fellow British gallopers Red Cadeaux, Mount Athos and Dandino, all of who competed at the Melbourne Spring Carnival, finishing second, third and fifth to Fiorente in the Group 1 $6m Emirates Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington on November 5.
The three British stayers will do battle again when they line in the Group 1 HK$15m Longines Hong Kong Vase (2400m).
Side Glance had his first start in Australia when sixth to Shamus Award in the Group 1 $3m Sportingbet Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley on October 26 before winning at Flemington.
His Melbourne Spring Carnival campaign followed a trip to the United States where the seven year old finished third in the Group 1 US$1m Arlington Million (2000m) at Arlington Park on August 17.
Side Glance also raced at Royal Ascot in June as well as visiting Dubai during the World Cup Carnival in March where he ran fourth to Animal Kingdom in the Group 1 US$10m Dubai World Cup Sponsored by Emirates Airline (2000m) at Meydan on March 30.
