SNOW FAIRY has taken the 40-hour journey to Japan in her stride, and Robin Trevor-Jones, Ed Dunlop's travelling head lad, reports that our dual Oaks winner is "œgiving out all the right signals" as she prepares for the Queen Elizabeth II Commemorative Cup at Kyoto on Sunday week.
Robin, who has previous experience of the land of the rising sun, having been to the Japan Cup with Ouija Board, said on Friday, "Japanese regulations mean that horses have to spend five full days in quarantine, so, though we touched down at Narita airport at 1.30pm on Monday, we won't be allowed out of quarantine until tomorrow (Saturday)."
"œHowever, Snow Fairy seems in good shape and we will leave the quarantine at Shiroi on Sunday for the seven-hour journey by road to Kyoto. The filly has eaten and drunk well and her weight is good. She has had a good rest and we are just starting to build her up again, so it's a case of "˜so far so good'."
"œWe had a relatively smooth flight from Stansted, via Amsterdam and Milan, but we heard en route that they were experiencing a typhoon in Japan, so it was a relief that to get here and find that it had all passed over."
"œThe boss is due to arrive out here on Wednesday, and Ryan (Moore) will be on the track on Thursday to ride her in a gallop. I have looked at the likely opposition, and the locals are full of Apapane, who has won the Japanese Fillies Triple Crown. She looks very good, but she has yet to take on the four-year-olds, whereas we have had one crack at the older fillies and did pretty well against one of the best around in Midday."
"œThere is some fabulous prize money on offer what with the bonuses on the table, so, hopefully, we will finish in the money, and, while I am not into Sushi, the beef looks terrific out here and, though, like everything else, it is very expensive, if Snow Fairy wins I might well eat the whole cow!"