Hong Kong Vase challenger Stone Age leads Aidan O'Brien squad at Sha Tin

Stone Age spearheads a three-strong challenge from trainer Aidan O’Brien at the Hong Kong International Races at Sha Tin on Sunday when he lines up in the Group 1 Hong Kong Vase (6.10am).

Stone Age is the only three-year-old in the 1m4f contest, sponsored by Longines, although Highland Reel and Mogul were the same age when scoring for O’Brien in 2015 and 2020 respectively.

A one-time leading contender for the Derby, Stone Age has not added to his spring wins in a maiden at Navan and the Group 3 Derby Trial at Leopardstown, but has shown an aptitude for travelling having twice been placed in America, most recently when second in the Breeders’ Cup Turf at Keeneland.

"We were delighted with him in the Breeders’ Cup. He ran a very good race and had progressed from his previous run at Ascot,” O’Brien said. “We’ve been happy with everything we’ve seen from him since then.

“It was on my mind to go to Hong Kong after the Breeders’ Cup. We thought the track, trip and ground should suit him fine and we’re all looking forward to it.

“We think and hope he will [stay in training next year]. We think he’s progressing and definitely could do so again from three to four."

Stone Age is joined in the Vase by his globetrotting stablemate Broome, who makes his debut in Hong Kong aged six having previously raced in Ireland, Britain, France, America and Japan. Last time out he was sixth in the Breeders' Cup Turf.

"We were very happy with his run in America. He was a bit slow away, got back a little bit and finished off very well,” O’Brien said. “We had it in our heads that we might go to the Japan Cup, but it came maybe a week or two too early and that’s why we waited.

“We were delighted to have the opportunity to come to Hong Kong with him. He’s in good form and is a good-natured, sound horse."

European trainers provide half of the ten-runner field for the Vase, with Mendocino, Botanik and Bubble Gift also lining up in the HK$22 million (£2.1m/€2.4m) contest.

Bubble Gift’s trainer Mikel Delzangles won the race with Dunaden in 2011 and believes his four-year-old has what it takes to make his mark at Sha Tin this year.

“Bubble Gift ticks most of the boxes to do well here. This is his trip and he goes on any ground, so there's no reason not to try,” he said. “Plus, he has a decent turn of foot.

“The Vase has a very even look to it and, while he won’t be favourite, he’s up there with those who have a chance.”

Order Of Australia steps up in trip in the Hong Kong CupCredit: Caroline Norris (racingpost.com/photos)

O’Brien is also seeking victory in the Longines Hong Kong Cup (8.40am) with Order Of Australia, although the five-year-old has been drawn unfavourably in stall 11 of 12 in the 1m2f event.

“He’s been running all the time over a mile but we always thought stepping up to a mile and a quarter would improve him more,” O’Brien said. “He has won over seven furlongs twice as well, so we kept him at a mile after the Breeders’ Cup win, but we think there’s a pretty good chance this trip will be fine."

The star attraction on the card at Sha Tin is Golden Sixty, the dual Hong Kong horse of the year who will try to win a third successive Group 1 Longines Hong Kong Mile (8.00am).

The seven-year-old overcame a difficult trip to win his most recent start last month and trainer Francis Lui is happy with his star’s preparation as well as the relationship between the horse and his jockey, Vincent Ho.

He said: “They have a very good friendship. In his races the horse seems to still have his fighting heart – that’s the main point.”

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