Graham Cunningham: Hong Kong ready to take on the world in International week

The stars are flying in for next week's Hong Kong International Races and the home team are relishing the challenge. Joao Moreira is on one of the hottest streaks of his life, while Caspar Fownes is ten clear atop the trainers' table. Both men will be aiming for further success at Sha Tin this Sunday on a ten-race card split between six dirt races and four on turf, live on Sky Sports Racing from 5am until 9.45.

Sunday's Sha Tin card

Magic Man moves 20 clear

Coming from double digits back to win a HK jockeys' title can be done. Zac Purton has achieved it twice – including last season – but the Aussie looks very unlikely to do so again this time after Joao Moreira went 20 ahead at Happy Valley on Wednesday.

The Brazilian 'Magic Man' completed his fourth treble in a row aboard Kinda Cool and, with Purton suspended, he has the chance to start the biggest week of the season with another powerful Sunday book.

Soumillon set to emerge from quarantine

It's official: the 2020 Longines HKIR will take place with only officials, media and owners with runners present due to a recent escalation of Covid-19 cases in Hong Kong.

Hopes were high that as many as 16,000 fans might be at Sha Tin for the showpiece occasion but recent weeks have seen a surge in the virus, with Saturday's total of 101 new cases representing the fourth time this week that a triple-digit number has been logged.

A new bubble within the existing racing bubble has been created for next week's international visitors but Christophe Soumillon – recently recovered from Covid himself – is on the second week of his quarantine and has a full book for HKIR day, including a second date with last year's Mile hero Admire Mars.

Admire Mars wins last year's Hong Kong Mile under Christophe SoumillonCredit: Edward Whitaker

O'Brien up for HKIR challenge

Aidan O'Brien has had mixed fortunes in HK – with Highland Reel's two Vase wins set against defeat for 20 other raiders including stars like Arc hero Dylan Thomas and Derby winner Anthony Van Dyck – but the Ballydoyle team are relishing the prospect of taking on HK's best with a three-strong HKIR team made up of Magical, Mogul and Order Of Australia.

"We always love it when the races are mega-competitive," O'Brien said. "That's what makes them worth winning."

Ryan Moore will partner Mogul and Magical but Pierre-Charles Boudot gelled perfectly with Order Of Australia at Keeneland last month and is expected to keep the mount as the three-year-old tries to become the first horse to complete the Breeders' Cup Mile/HK Mile double.

Order Of Australia (centre) wins the Breeders' Cup Mile under Pierre-Charles BoudotCredit: Bobby Ellis

Size stars impress in trials

Moreira's old ally John Size is plotting a typically careful course as he bids to turn silver into Group 1 gold with Hot King Prawn and Waikuku next week. Size's stable stars finished second in the HK Sprint and Mile last year, beaten a neck and half a length, and both are ready to roll again judged on strong Friday trial wins.

Hot King Prawn always looks good of a morning and powered clear under Moreira, while Waikuku hasn't run since disappointing in April but Size knows all about winning the Mile first time out having done the trick with Glorious Days in 2013.

The Summit not in peak form

A couple of familiar Euro recruits were among those left behind as Hot King Prawn and Waikuku rolled forward, namely French Guineas and Derby runner-up The Summit and Pas Malotru, who finished third in Pinatubo's Prix Jean Prat when known simply as Malotru for Marco Botti.

Both horses trialled respectably – no better – and whether they can make an early mark in HK handicaps from ratings of 91 and 89 respectively remains to be seen.

Sunday's Sha Tin card

Bets can be placed into HK pools with the Tote, Coral and Ladbrokes. The first race at Sha Tin on Sunday is at 5am

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