American speedster Nobals has been withdrawn from Sunday’s Group One Hong Kong Sprint (1,200m) after failing to overcome a fever.

Jockey Club chief steward Marc van Gestel confirmed on Thursday that last year’s Group One Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (1,000m) winner “continued to display a blood abnormality and is not suitable to start this Sunday”.

It was revealed on Tuesday that Nobals was being treated for a fever with evidence of an infection, which forced him to be sidelined from trackwork.

His withdrawal has paved the way for first reserve Flying Ace to leap into the field of 14, with Matthew Poon Ming-fai booked to ride the David Hall-trained sprinter.

While Nobals’ withdrawal has left the United States without a Longines Hong Kong International Races (HKIR) representative again, Japan will launch a three-handed assault on the Sprint in the nation’s bid for its first success in the race since Danon Smash in 2020.

The Land of the Rising Sun’s Sprint runners Lugal, Toshin Macau and Satono Reve all worked on the turf at Sha Tin on Thursday morning, pleasing their connections ahead of Sunday’s feature.

“He accelerated well and it was a nice breeze this morning,” trainer Mizuki Takayanagi said of Toshin Macau, who ran second to Lugal in the Group One Sprinters Stakes (1,200m) at Nakayama racecourse last start.

“We decided to send him to Hong Kong after the Sprinters Stakes. He is in as good form as he was in Japan.”

Lugal was given the strongest hit-out of the trio.

“He is relaxed here so I told the jockey to ask him a bit stronger towards the end of the stretch,” trainer Haruki Sugiyama said.

“I know it will be a very competitive race on Sunday, but hopefully he will run at his best.”