Connections confident Werther can showcase champion credentials

8.30 Sha Tin (Sunday)
Longines Hong Kong Cup (Group 1) | 1m2f | 3yo+ | ATR/RUK

Key questions

Are the British and Irish good enough?

The only four British and Irish horses to have won this race since the turn of the century are Falbrav, Alexander Goldrun, Ramonti and Snow Fairy – four proven top-class performers.

Deauville, the choice of Ryan Moore, has won a Grade 1 but needs to bounce back from running poorly in the Woodbine Mile, while stablemate War Decree was well beaten in the Breeders' Cup Classic.

Trainer Aidan O'Brien said: "Deauville has been freshened up after his run in Canada, where the ground didn't suit. A good, even pace on turf that he'll like is what he needs, and that will hopefully get him into a nice rhythm. I think the ten furlongs is his ideal trip.

"War Decree found the dirt track at Del Mar a little too much for him, but he came out of the race well, and the turf track here should be more to his liking."

Blond Me won the Grade 1 EP Taylor Stakes last time but this is tougher. Trainer Andrew Balding said: "She's got a place chance. I'm not kidding myself thinking she's going to win it, but if she finished placed we would be delighted."

The Sir Michael Stoute-trained Poet's Word has finished runner-up at Group 1 level on his last two starts and, while he has been drawn widest of all in stall 12, is the outstanding European candidate based on form.

Not original but will Werther be tough to beat?

Three-time Group 1 winner Werther looks sure to go off a hot favourite and has been the subject of bullish reports from trainer John Moore.

Moore said: "We've done all we can to get him to peak fitness and now we're just hoping he can give the race a real shake.

"I think he's in as good form as he's ever been. He's got a very big heart, this horse, and we're going in with confidence. He was underdone last time and he still fought off a pretty smart horse to win. He's a fitter horse now."

The horse Werther beat on his latest start may be familiar to British punters as Time Warp was a dual Listed winner when in the care of Sir Mark Prescott two seasons ago.

Zac Purton takes the ride on Time Warp and he said: "Time Warp is a big-framed horse with a lovely big stride on him. He has a really high cruising speed and gets out there [in front] and bowls along. If nothing takes him on I can see him running a big race."

A hat-trick for Japan?

A Shin Hikari and Maurice have provided the Japanese with the last two runnings of the Hong Kong Cup and they have three representatives this year, headed by Neorealism, the mount of Joao Moreira.

Moreira said: "I went for a breeze-up on Neorealism on Thursday. We didn't go very fast as he had done his main gallop before he came to Hong Kong. He seemed very fit.

"I had a concern which I brought up to connections that he started off his work a little bit stiff, but fortunately when he started to stretch and get going he loosened up and got me as happy as I could be.

"I think he's a very nice horse but he is difficult to ride. He hasn't been jumping well out of the gates so we have been trying to figure out why he has been doing that. We figured out a few things about him and I really think I can get him to jump properly."

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