The road to the Hong Kong international races begins in earnest on Sunday as 25 of the top 30 rated horses in Hong Kong step out in the Group Two Premier Bowl (1,200m) and the Group Two Sha Tin Mile Trophy (1,600m).
Last year, the winners of the Hong Kong Sprint, Hong Kong Mile and Hong Kong Cup all came through these crucial lead-ups, while 15 of the 25 runners across both races ended up contesting the Group One features on international day.
So which global raiders are likely to make the end-of-year trip to Hong Kong to take on the best the locals have to offer?
Free entries close for the international races on Monday, with the Jockey Club to release a list of nominations next week. Obviously, a lot can change in the coming weeks with the Breeders' Cup, Melbourne Cup carnival and Japan's November programme all set to determine who makes the trip to Hong Kong.
However, here are 10 horses that have already been touted as likely visitors.
CHAUTAUQUA (Australia, Sprint)
The grey wonder from down under has dazzled at his last three wins, taking the Group Two McEwen Stakes and Friday night's Group One Manikato Stakes, both around the tight Moonee Valley circuit, as well as the Group Two Gilgai Stakes down the Flemington straight in between. He has already won a Group One in the clockwise direction, taking the T J Smith Stakes in Sydney earlier this year. He is likely to be one of the headline horses in December.
SOLE POWER (Ireland, Sprint)
Another of the perennial visitors, Sole Power is set to run for the fourth time in Hong Kong. His best performance was a second to Lord Kanaloa in 2013, flanked by two ninths in 2012 and 2014. While 1,200m stretches his stamina, he is world class on his day and with the right run is always in the mix. And unlike many, he gets ground to suit here, although he did win on softer ground two starts back.
STRAIGHT GIRL (Japan, Sprint)
Last year's Hong Kong Sprint third behind Aerovelocity and Peniaphobia, the Japanese mare is likely to return after a slashing win in the Group One Sprinters Stakes earlier this month. What could make her return interesting is the rumours that her connections have made overtures to Joao Moreira about taking the ride - despite the fact he is already committed to Peniaphobia, who he partners in Sunday's Premier Bowl.
UNDRAFTED (United States, Sprint)
In what is already shaping as a hot race, Royal Ascot victor Undrafted may become the first American to run in the Hong Kong Sprint since California Flag in 2009. Wesley Ward's sprinter will head to the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint at Keeneland next weekend before any plans are decided. While he is a confirmed entrant, there are concerns that he may not be the best traveller - even despite his Royal Ascot win - so the stable is still not locked in to bringing him across. Instead, they may look to stablemate Green Mask, third behind Sole Power in the Al Quoz Sprint in March and also entered for the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint, to carry the stars and stripes in Hong Kong.
Watch Undrafted's Diamond Jubilee Stakes win:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SVnOoNmlIBw
ESOTERIQUE (France, Mile)
Mile contenders are few and far between. This was already the case before Able Friend emerged on the scene, as locals had won every Hong Kong Mile since 2006, but the presence of the giant chestnut has proved an extra hurdle in attracting visitors for the Mile. This was evident with the Champions Mile in May, when not one raider made the trip. Still, this year there are a couple of likely visitors, with Yasuda Kinen winner Maurice a possible. The most likely is French mare Esoterique, who has been a model of consistency this year. Andre Fabre's mare has won Group One races at her last two, taking the Prix Jacques Le Marois and the Sun Chariot Stakes, but her runner-up performances behind Solow and Muhaarar before that were career benchmarks. She is currently favourite for next weekend's Breeders' Cup Mile at Keeneland, a race which is sure to decide her future plans.
FREE EAGLE (Ireland, Cup)
It was announced overnight that Prince Of Wales's Stakes winner Free Eagle would retire to the Irish National Stud next year, but it was quickly clarified that he would stay in training with Dermot Weld to target late-season features in Hong Kong and Japan. The son of High Chaparral has only had seven starts and is coming off the first unplaced effort of his career when sixth to Golden Horn in the Arc. A positive for him heading out this way is that he seems to perform at his best when he gets firm ground, something which he has struggled to find in Europe. While the Vase can't be ruled out as a target, it seems more than likely that they would stick to 2,000m and the Cup with Free Eagle.
Watch Free Eagle's Prince Of Wales's Stakes win:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PeqPgv7tqh8
CIRRUS DES AIGLES (France, Vase)
If grand old stager Cirrus Des Aigles returns, it will be his seventh trip to Hong Kong - quite remarkable. He runs in Sunday's Prix Royal-Oak at Saint-Cloud over 3,100m, his first test beyond 2,500m, and trainer Corine Barande-Barbe has said she wants to chase the Vase this year, rather than the Cup. It was the Vase which he contested as a three-year-old, finishing fifth to Daryakana in 2009, but in five subsequent trips he has contested the Cup four times (he was a withdrawal in 2012). He looks sure to visit once again, but father time is catching up to him and it may be his last trip.
FLINTSHIRE (France, Vase)
Last year's Hong Kong Vase winner looks set to return for Andre Fabre and Khalid Abdullah after another consistent season. He has only won once, taking the Grade One Sword Dancer Stakes at Saratoga, but seconds at the highest level in the Sheema Classic, Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud and the Arc would see him more than competitive in Hong Kong again this year. This year, he will forego the Breeders' Cup Turf - in which he finished second to Main Sequence last year - and will instead head to Tokyo for the Japan Cup, before ending his year in the Vase once more.
MONGOLIAN KHAN (New Zealand, Vase)
The imposing four-year-old added the Caulfield Cup to his record last weekend after becoming the first horse in almost 30 years to complete the New Zealand Derby-Australian Derby double. Incredibly, it seems as though he is still improving and looks a top stayer in the making. His owner, Chinese billionaire entrepreneur Lang Lin, is very keen to have his horse contest the Hong Kong Vase. However, trainer Murray Baker is understood to be less keen. His performance in Tuesday week's Melbourne Cup will determine whether he makes the trip.
RED CADEAUX (United Kingdom, Vase)
The popular Hong Kong-owned Red Cadeaux is likely to return for the sixth and final time when he finishes his career in the Hong Kong Vase - a race he won in 2012.However, if they get the fairytale result and finally win the Melbourne Cup, it wouldn't shock to see him retired. Still, Dunlop is likely to be represented by Caulfield Cup runner-up and Ascot Gold Cup winner Trip To Paris, a horse shaping as a successor to Red Cadeaux's globetrotter mantle.
