Luxembourg aiming to finish on a high in Hong Kong
Luxembourg will try to end his career on a high when he lines up in Sunday’s Longines Hong Kong Vase at Sha Tin.
The five-year-old will take up stallion duties in the new year and bows out a Group One winner in each of his four seasons racing, with this year’s top-level strike coming in the Coronation Cup at Epsom back in May.
O’Brien said: “We thought he ran a great race last year. He’s a very high-class horse. Last year he was coming home very well and he was just beaten on the line, it looked as if we’d had run him over a mile and a half it would have suited him.
“He ran a very good race in the Breeders’ Cup Turf, much better than you’d think. He’s off to stud after this. He’s been a great horse, big, strong and consistent. Obviously, he wasn’t always first string, but we’re looking forward to it, see what happens.”
“Continuous is probably more forward than he’s been all year,” the trainer added.
“Things haven’t really worked for him yet this year but he is in good form, very happy with his work. A mile and a half and nice ground should be fine for him.”
The Marco Botti-trained Giavellotto and William Haggas’ Dubai Honour also line up, with Iresine and Marquisat running for French handlers Jean-Pierre Gauvin and Andre Fabre respectively.
O’Brien will be represented in the Longines Hong Kong Cup in which local favourite Romantic Warrior is a short price to claim an unprecedented third victory.
“We had the choice of the races for Wingspan and we think the mile and a quarter will be fine for her,” O’Brien said.
“Content can be keen and we think the pace of the race will suit her. She ran in America last time (sixth in the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf) and the pace wasn’t really fast enough for her. We thought going back will suit and get her relaxed.”
Docklands will wear blinkers for the first time in the Longines Hong Kong Mile after two Australian runs for Harry Eustace, having found Via Sistina a tough nut to crack in both the Cox Plate and Champions Stakes.
Eustace told Grosvenor Sport: “We are going to use the blinkers with him on Sunday for the first time in a race. Even though he’s coming here after what might look like middling runs on paper, we have reason to believe there’s more to come from him. Back to the mile, blinkers on, and with a top international jockey in Mark Zahra booked, we can’t wait for Sunday.
“I think he will be a good each-way bet. He always turns up, and for me, he ran two excellent races in Australia, and he hasn’t thrown in a dud yet. He’s a solid chance of running into the places.”
Ramadan changed hands for €1.5million after winning at the Arc meeting and he makes what is likely to be his first and only start for James Ferguson, as he is due to continue his career in Hong Kong.
Breeders’ Cup winner Starlust represents trainer Ralph Beckett and jockey Rossa Ryan in the Longines Hong Kong Sprint but will have to contend with local sensation Ka Ying Rising.
Beckett said: “We’ve come to the conclusion that a flat track around a bend suits him best so the way it sets up here is ideal for him. He came out of Del Mar in good shape.
“Everything went his way that day at Del Mar, I’m well aware of that, but you’ve still got to get it done and he did. I think there’s a good chance he’ll run well on Sunday, but we shall see whether that’s good enough.”