Haggas has Hong Kong ground 'fear' for remarkable improver Dubai Honour

Dubai Honour suffered a handicap defeat off a mark of 91 on his first start of the year and ends it 30lb higher in the world's richest 1m2f turf race, but quick conditions – according to his camp – at Sha Tin may reduce his chances in Sunday's Longines Hong Kong Cup (8.30).

The Britannia fourth won a pair of valuable French Group 2s before a fine third in the Champion Stakes at Ascot and he is Coral's 11-4 second favourite to give Britain its first Hong Kong Cup victory since the Ed Dunlop-trained Snow Fairy sparkled in 2010.

Tom Marquand will ride Dubai Honour for owner Mohamed Obaida and trainer William Haggas, who said: "My fear, and I think it’s Tom’s fear, is the ground.

"Although he won at Newmarket on fast ground in July, he has run his best three races on soft ground."

Mac Swiney and Kevin Manning get a feel for conditions in Hong KongCredit: Hong Kong Jockey Club

Jim Bolger's Irish 2,000 Guineas ace Mac Swiney and Loves Only You – Japan's first Breeders' Cup winner – also line up in a tasty £2.8 million contest, as does Bolshoi Ballet, the Aidan O'Brien representative who went off favourite for the Derby at Epsom in June.

Jockey Ryan Moore, seeking his third win in the race after Snow Fairy and Maurice (2016), said: "He won a Grade 1 in America at ten furlongs and his two wins at the start of the year were over ten furlongs. He's obviously very happy at that distance. I had high hopes for him and while he hasn't run bad races lately, I would like to have seen a little bit more from him.

"The quick ground will be in his favour and I don’t think Sha Tin will be any problem. He is a nice type of horse and I still believe there’s a good horse in there."

Moore might be less optimistic about Mother Earth, a stablemate of Bolshoi Ballet's who captured the 1,000 Guineas in May, but is up against local champion and odds-on chance Golden Sixty, who has won his last 16 races, in the Longines Hong Kong Mile (7.50).

Mother Earth tracks her Ballydoyle stablemates Bolshoi Ballet and MogulCredit: Hong Kong Jockey Club

"She’s a wonderful filly," Moore added. "She's been on the go all year and late on as a two-year-old as well.

"She’s been consistent all year. The race is very strong with Golden Sixty and a live Japanese contingent. It’s going to be tough for her but she’s got a nice draw in four, gets a nice weight pull and she usually runs a good race. Sha Tin will suit and she’ll enjoy the quick ground."

In Hot King Prawn, Moore also has a ride in the Longines Hong Kong Sprint (6.40), but Japan's Pixie Knight could take the beating in that, and his jockey Yuichi Fukunaga said: "This is his first time travelling abroad, but he's very relaxed and fresh. He moved nicely on Friday morning and has no gate issues, so goes into the race in good condition."

Hong Kong Cup
Coral: 15-8 Loves Only You, 11-4 Dubai Honour, 5 Lei Papale, 10 Glorious Dragon, Hishi Iguazu, 12 Mac Swiney, 20 Bolshoi Ballet, Panfield, 25 Ka Ying Star, Russian Emperor, 40 Tourbillon Diamond, 100 Berlin Tango

Hong Kong Mile
Coral: 1-2 Golden Sixty, 8 Indy Champ, 10 Danon Kingly, 12 Mother Earth, Salios, Waikuku, 20 Sky Darci, 25 More Than This, Vin De Garde, 33 Excellent Proposal, 50 Lucky Express

Hong Kong Sprint
Coral: 2 Pixie Knight, 5 Lucky Patch, Resistencia, 8 Courier Wonder, 10 Danon Smash, Wellington, 12 Naboo Attack, Sky Field, 14 Hot King Prawn, 25 Stronger, 33 Computer Patch, 66 Amazing Star

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