Japanese sprinter Lugal was the lone international galloper to appear on the Sha Tin turf on Monday morning as the overseas contingent continued its build-up to Sunday’s Longines Hong Kong International Races (HKIR).

Rated one of the biggest threats to Hong Kong’s boom speedster Ka Ying Rising in the Group One Hong Kong Sprint (1,200m), Lugal was put through his paces in a light canter on Monday while a host of other internationals worked on Sha Tin’s dirt tracks.

Lugal, who claimed his maiden Group One success in September’s Sprinters Stakes (1,200m) at Nakayama racecourse, has pleased the Haruki Sugiyama stable in the early stages of his first overseas trip.

“It was his first time travelling on the airplane, so that was our concern before the trip,” stable representative Yuta Sato said.

“But thanks to all the staff who worked very hard for the transport, everything went well without issues. No plane delay, which was good.

“He was a bit nervous on the first day, but being quite a smart horse, he was getting settled in well and felt almost the same as what he was at home on the second day. All has gone as planned so far.”

Champion trainer Aidan O’Brien’s HKIR quartet of Luxembourg, Continuous, Wingspan and Content followed lead horse Hypnosis in unison in a steady canter on the all-weather surface.

Luxembourg and Continuous will tackle the Group One Hong Kong Vase (2,400m), while Wingspan and Content take on Hong Kong superstar Romantic Warrior in the Group One Hong Kong Cup (2,000m).

“All good with them. They got here on Saturday and have settled in well,” said O’Brien’s travelling head lad Pat Keating.

“They just went seven furlongs today and as we usually do over here, we’ll just be building them up during the week. The boss is coming over and should hopefully be here on Thursday morning.”

Meanwhile, American speedster Nobals was found to have an elevated temperature over the weekend but is recovering well and is expected to be fit for Sunday’s Sprint.