Hughes: Major chance for Cadeaux

Jockey Richard Hughes believes Major Cadeaux's battles with Europe's crack milers have put the Richard Hannon-trained four-year-old in a strong position for Sunday's Hong Kong Mile.

In the summer's Group One events Major Cadeaux finished behind Henrythenavigator and Raven's Pass in the Sussex Stakes before taking third in the Prix Jacques le Marois behind Tamayuz and Natagora.

And despite two failures at Group Two level at Doncaster and Newmarket in the lead up to the trip to Sha Tin, Hughes is in a confident mood after being drawn in stall one for the $2.1million 1600m turf trip.

Natagora, a French-trained Classic-winning filly of this year's 1000 Guineas at Newmarket who also ran third in the French Derby, starts from 10, with Breeders' Cup Mile runner-up Kip Deville outside in 12.

‘I have just arrived but he looks well and appears to be moving well so I am happy. It is a great draw. We will just sit behind the pace and see how we go,’ Hughes told PA Sport.

‘Nothing too much stands out from the field, but it's not as strong as he has been running in this year against the likes of Raven's Pass and Henrythenavigator. Natagora could be the one.

‘The ground will get quick during the afternoon but I am quietly confident.’

Hong Kong's Horse of the Year Good Ba Ba will look to defend his crown from stall seven, while Japan's Super Hornet and Michael Jarvis' Topkapi Trophy winner Pressing are set to challenge from two and 11 respectively.