Hong Kong Raiders!

[Mortimer]

Originally Posted by CSC

I follow the HK circuit as much as I can, glad to see someone other than me that has an interest here.

[my miss storm cat]

It's a good thing Kingie isn't in charge of UAE press releases or they'd never get any buzz.

Watch What Happens to Dubai

Hong Kong's mpressive all-weather track performer Watch What Happens heads to Dubai today, on the advice of champion jockey Douglas Whyte, according to the South China Morning Post.

The five-year-old has not raced since impressively winning the Pok Oi Cup (1,650m) on the artificial surface at Sha Tin on January 12.

The Sean Woods-trained rising star will accompany the John Moore-trained Viva Macau on the trip to compete at the Dubai International Racing Carnival’s 'Super Thursday' meeting on March 6.

Watch What Happens will line up for the Group 3 Burj Nahaar, a race over 1,600 metres on dirt, with the goal of securing an invitation to compete in the US$1m Godolphin Mile (Gr 2), sponsored by Etisalat, over the same course and distance on Dubai World Cup night, March 29.

“Douglas Whyte was very impressed with how Watch What Happens won on the dirt here last month and his confidence that the horse can measure up in stronger company on that surface has been one of the deciding factors in our going,” Woods explained.

“The horse is in great form and the dirt track at Nad Al Sheba, with its long home straight, should suit him.”

Watch What Happens, a five-year-old by Stravinsky, did not race as a juvenile but had five starts as a three-year-old for two wins, two seconds and a fourth. Each of the wins was over 1,600 metres on good ground at Chantilly, home of the French Derby and Oaks.

Since being purchased for Hong Kong, Watch What Happens’ turf form was disappointing but he really came into his own on the Sha Tin dirt track, where he has now won high-rating races at both 1,200 and 1,650 metres.

In fact, in his win over 1,200 metres on May 12 last year, Watch What Happens registered new course record figures of 1:07.8.

Moore has the blessing of owner Stanley Ho Hung-sun to send Viva Macau to the UAE to contest the Jebel Hatta (Gr 2, 1777m) on turf in a bid to earn selection for the US$5m Dubai Duty Free on the Dubai World Cup undercard.

Viva Macau’s trip also has some reconnaissance value for Moore and Ho, as the bigger game is for stablemate Viva Pataca to emulate Vengeance Of Rain’s win for Hong Kong in the US$5m Dubai Sheema Classic, sponsored by Nakheel.

Viva Pataca must first come through Sunday's HK$8 million Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup, for which he will be a dominating favourite in a field of just eight runners.

[my miss storm cat]

Bye kids!!!!!

Be good on the plane.

http://www.hkjc.com/english/news/news_2008022318223.htm

[my miss storm cat]

Viva Pataca leaves March 18th.....

[NoChanceToDance]

I'm being lazy, I know...... but which race is VP going for, The Duty Free or The Sheema Classic?

[my miss storm cat]

Originally Posted by NoChanceToDance

I'm being lazy, I know...... but which race is VP going for, The Duty Free or The Sheema Classic?

The Sheema Classic.

Holding my breath now to see what Tony does with Bullish Luck.

[NoChanceToDance]

Originally Posted by my miss storm cat

The Sheema Classic.

Holding my breath now to see what Tony does with Bullish Luck.

Glad about that. I had visions of him running in the Duty Free and not having enough speed to do himself justice. The Sheema Classic should suit him much better. Not saying he'll still be good enough to win that, but he will have a chance over that distance.