Longines Hong Kong Mile preview

The traditional end-of-year finale in Hong Kong with Hong Kong International Raceday, featuring some of the best of the world's bloodstock. Studying hard for the previews has been Luke Humphreys, @WorldRacingLuke.

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Longines Hong Kong Mile

Group 1, 1600m
Sha Tin 1550 Local Time, 1850 AEST 750AM BST
(ODDS LISTED WERE BEST AVAILABLE AT TIME OF WRITING)

1 Beauty Only (13/2): Won this last year in great style but has not won since. Ran a good fourth in the trial but was in better form 12 months ago.

2 Helene Paragon (7/1): Second in this 12 months ago followed by two G1 victories, was known as Sir Andrew when raced in Europe and trained in Spain, of all places! Hard horse to follow but ran second in the trial.

3 Contentment (16/1): Got his day in the G1 Champion’s Mile in May over Beauty Only and was then down the track in Japan. Disappointing when first-up and was more than two months ago, question marks.

4 Satono Aladdin (9/1): Running at this meeting for the third consecutive year but very ordinary the last two times in Japanese G1s. Has to be question marks and no way Jose at 9/1.

5 Joyful Trinity (33/1): Last all the way effectively in the trial. No.

6 Lightning Spear (40/1): Huge odds for a horse as consistent as he is. Weakened late in the QEII, deserves a G1, could be today.

7 Seasons Bloom (7/2): Ran second, third and fourth behind Rapper Dragon throughout the feature G1 races as a 4YO last season, earlier in the calendar year. Won the trial race well last time, seems to be the best of the locals, first real big test though.

8 Horse Of Fortune (40/1): Not a bad run in the trial when not having a lot of luck in the straight, could be value.

9 Karar (33/1): Finally got a black type victory when winning a Chantilly G3 on his debut as a gelding. Subsequent third in the G1 Prix de la Foret and then ran a good run in the Mile race at the Breeders’ Cup finishing seventh but it was a wall of a finish.

10 Beauty Generation (12/1): Already a G3 and G2 winner this season that was third in the trial race. Arguably the best of the “Beauty’s”

11 Sichuan Dar (66/1): Another one that hit the line strongly in the trial with no luck. Big overs if any luck.

12 Western Express (66/1): Ran ok in the trial when outpaced by a couple of better ones late.

13 Lancaster Bomber (11/1): One of the two Aidan O’Brien’s that has been so consistent this season, despite pacemaking for Churchill. Finished fourth on dirt in the Derby in the UAE, then fift in the Guineas, as a pacemaker, second in the St James’s Palace, as a pacemaker, despised the soft ground at Goodwood and Ascot, the latter as a pacemaker, great runs behind World Approval in America also. This is his chance for G1 glory, would be well deserved.

14 Roly Poly (14/1): Has created a bit of history as she won all three G1’s races for older/all age fillies and mares run up a straight mile in the world in the one year this season. Disappointed at Del Mar but beat subsequent Ascot QEII winner at Newmarket.

Ratings: (13) LANCASTER BOMBER - (14) ROLY POLY - (6) LIGHTNING SPEAR - (7) SEASONS BLOOM - (9) KARAR - (10) BEAUTY GENERATION - (11) SICHAUAN DAR - (8) HORSE OF GENERATION - (2) HELENE PARAGON - (1) BEAUTY ONLY

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