Hong Kong International Races at Sha Tin
6.00 Longines Hong Kong Vase 1m4f
6.40 Longines Hong Kong Sprint 6f
7.50 Longines Hong Kong Mile 1m
8.30 Longines Hong Kong Cup 1m2f
Dermot Weld's Free Eagle aims to end his career on a high in the Hong Kong Cup on Sunday.
Winner of the Prince of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot in June, the four-year-old has been beset by niggles throughout his career.
His problems started when he picked up an injury on his second outing behind subsequent dual Derby winner Australia.
That ruled him out of almost all his three-year-old season but he returned to win a Group Three by seven lengths and go close in the Champion Stakes at Ascot.
His next run was his biggest success and he also ran with credit in the Irish Champion Stakes, where he was given a big nudge by Golden Horn, and in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.
The last time Weld was successful in Hong Kong was with Additional Risk, also owned and bred by Moyglare Stud
Fiona Craig, representing Moyglare Stud said: "He travelled well, but was understandably very tired on arrival.
"He seems in good form now and has been cantering daily, so we'll see what happens.
"Everyone seems very happy with him. He had a gallop on soft ground at Leopardstown in November that went well, but that is obviously very different to a mile and a half on fast ground at Sha Tin.
"We thought long and hard whether we should run in the Cup or the Vase. I'm not sure how you can judge his run in the Arc and we know he can do it at a mile-and-a-quarter.
"It didn't work out for him at Longchamp and we'll never know what would have happened at Leopardstown after the incident with Golden Horn.
"It's a bit ironic that the horse who could be his biggest threat, Designs On Rome, is a horse we bred and sold as a yearling at Goffs for €10,000.
"All these years later, we're taking him on in a Group One in Hong. It's funny how things work out sometimes.
"It would be great if he can go out on a high."
In the Hong Kong Sprint Edde Lynam's admirable Sole Power is back for another go over his less-favoured six furlongs.
"It's no secret he's a specialist 1000 metre (five furlongs) horse," said Lynam.
"His five Group One victories are all at 1000 metres, but he was second in this race and he ran a good race in the July Cup mid-season and with a horse like him, he's full of himself and training well, and when you get the opportunity to run in a race like the Hong Kong Sprint, you're always glad to take it.
"He'll enjoy the going and the pace of the race but he'll need a career-best 1200 metre run in order to win it.
"He keeps surprising people. It took him a while to win the Al Quoz Sprint (at Meydan) and it was a Hong Kong horse he beat there.
"I really think the horse has just got better with age" - Eddie Lynam on Sole Power
"This horse keeps turning up and we're delighted to have him here. Age has actually helped this horse. Mentally he was a difficult horse when he was younger, hence we gelded him. He only learned properly how to race as a four-year-old.
"I'd love to tell you it's been some great training by me, but I really think the horse has just got better with age. People sometimes question if he's as good as he was but at the age of eight, he's won a Group One and a Group Two this year so he's still punching at a big rate.
"It's set in stone. If all goes well he'll go to Dubai, have a trial on Super Saturday, where he'll probably get beaten, and hopefully do well in the Al Quoz, then Newmarket for the Palace House, then Ascot for that little race that he's won twice, the King's Stand."
In the Hong Kong Mile David O'Meara saddles the remarkable Mondialiste.
Having started the season finishing second in the Lincoln, he ended it finishing second at the Breeders' Cup, with a win in Canada beforehand.
O'Meara's assistant trainer Fearghal Davis said: "He won at York at nearly a mile and a furlong (Strensall Stakes), so he can get farther I suppose, but he's doing so well at the mile.
"He has a serious turn of foot.
"It (gate 13) really doesn't have a big effect (on us). We're going to be taking our time anyway. From out there with a long run into the turn, we can make our own trip, hopefully."
Richard Hannon runs Toormore, but Able Friend is sure to take all the beating, despite his Royal Ascot flop.
His trainer John Moore said: "I'm happy with him. All he needed was a freshen up after his race in the mile a couple of weeks back and he's there now, he's cherry ripe."
Jockey Joao Moreira is unconcerned by his draw in stall 10: "I'm not worried about the draw with Able Friend. He's the type of horse who gets back in any case and I can ride my own race on him from there."
Veteran French trainer Andre Fabre feels he has taken the "safest option" in opting to bid for a repeat win in the Hong Kong Vase with Flintshire.
Something of a nearly horse in Europe, where he has finished second in the Coronation Cup and the last two Prix de l'Arc de Triomphes, he has also won a Grade One in America to go with his success at home and in this race last year.
Fabre, who turned 70 this week, had considered taking his charge to the Japan Cup instead but decided to stick to what he knew.
"Flintshire is in good form and is doing really well. I am very happy with him," said Fabre.
"He showed last year that he enjoys the course at Sha Tin. I had considered running him in the Japan Cup this year but, given he had won in Hong Kong before, we thought it was the safest option to go back there with him."
Michael Stoute has always been a man to be feared, too, with his overseas raiders and his runner, Cannock Chase, already has one big pot in his bag, the Canadian International.
"I was very impressed with him in the Canadian International and we've stepped him up to a mile and a half on his last two starts which really suits him well," Stoute told At The Races.
"Canada was his best performance to date, he won very comfortably but he has been very consistent.
"He started off at Sandown in the Gordon Richards but the ground was too soft, as it was at Chester.
"He ran better than it looked in the Prince of Wales's at Royal Ascot because he just couldn't get out when he wanted.
"In the Winter Hill at Windsor the ground was against him again, but he got his ground in Canada.
"We had some niggles with him after ran in tacky ground at Chester, although he ran a decent race at Ascot I don't think he was as good as we could get him, I think he is now.
"Flintshire is very admirable and won the race last year, he'll be tough to beat, we've a bit to find on him but we're in good shape."
The nine-year-old Cirrus Des Aigles is a regular visitor to the meeting but has yet to win with his best effort coming in 2013 when he was third in the Cup.
"He knows this place so well and I can honestly say that I think he's as good as ever. He certainly looks it but we just don't want him to pull too hard," said his popular trainer Corine Barande-Barbe.
"On quick ground Cirrus is now able to run better over the 2400m than 2000m. Remember, he won the Coronation Cup at Epsom over 2400m on fast ground and was first and second over that distance at Meydan.
"I haven't told him how old he is!
"I have had old horses who have been retired and they ended up getting depressed in a field. We'll end when he tells me.
"If he wins another Sheema Classic in Dubai in March that might be the time to stop."
Highland Reel represents Aidan O'Brien but his chance may have been compromised by the draw.
Pat Keating, looking after Highland Reel for O'Brien, was philosophical: "I was hoping for somewhere between two and seven.
"As I was last up, and nine was all that was left, I'll take that."
