SNOW FAIRY, who touched down in Hong Kong from Japan on Saturday lunchtime, stepped out on to the Sha Tin track for the first time this morning (Monday) as she began her build-up to the Hong Kong Cup on December 12.
Our dual Oaks winner, who was awesome in victory in the Queen Elizabeth II Commemorative Cup at Kyoto 15 days ago, seems to revel in the globe-trotting and took the flight from Tokyo in her stride. Robin Trevor-Jones, who is supervising proceedings until Ed arrives in Hong Kong in the middle of next week, said:"It was good for Snow Fairy to be able to stretch her legs and both she and Lynsey seemed to enjoy their first experience of Sha Tin, which is an incredible racecourse.
"She was not herself when she got to Tokyo and, though she won so easily, you could see that she had had a race. The boss undoubtedly made the right decision to bypass the Japan Cup - the race would have come too soon and it is a tough enough assignment for a three-year-old filly anyway, and coming on to Hong Kong has given us that extra time which the filly needed to recover."
"We now have two weeks proper training to get Snow Fairy back on song, and she has already started to put the lost weight back on and enjoyed her jog out on the track this morning. Yesterday was our first full day in Hong Kong, and the temperature was 20 degrees, so listening to news about frostbound racecourses back home and a string of lost meetings, we are certainly in the right place."
"I have been to Hong Kong with Ouija Board and previous experience tells me that they will water every day between now and the big international meeting, but it dries up quickly in this climate and it will almost certainly be proper good to firm ground on the day. Ryan Moore, who won the World Super Jockeys Challenge in Japan on Sunday, is coming over to ride Snow Fairy again, which has to be a big plus, but it looks like being a very competitive race and Vision d'Etat, who won the race last year, will be a major threat from France."
"However, one of the most crucial factors will be the draw as it is a big negative over 10 furlongs at Sha Tin being in a wide stall. We cannot afford to be hung wide at that first bend, so we need some luck, though Snow Fairy has had such a magnificent season that she owes us nothing and we are so fortunate to have her racing again next year."