Aidan O’Brien is bullish a switch in Longines Hong Kong International Races (HKIR) targets with Luxembourg will pave the way for a successful end to the stallion’s racing career at Sha Tin on Sunday.
Returning to Hong Kong’s biggest meeting with a team of four runners, champion Irish trainer O’Brien felt Luxembourg was in the wrong race 12 months ago despite only falling just short of upsetting superstar Romantic Warrior.
The son of Camelot loomed as the winner of the Group One Hong Kong Cup (2,000m), but was beaten a shorthead in second behind Romantic Warrior.
Now a four-time winner at the elite-level, Luxembourg will tackle Sunday’s Group One Hong Kong Vase (2,400m) on his final start before joining Coolmore’s National Hunt sires’ division next year.
“We felt last year we ran him in the wrong race,” O’Brien said. “He just got beat and it looked like a mile and a half would have suited him better. Obviously he was very unlucky to meet a special horse [Romantic Warrior].
“His was a very good run in the Breeders’ Cup last time – probably better than what anyone else thinks. We thought a mile and a half would suit him, so we find out now whether we did the right thing last year or not. He seems to be in good form.”
Luxembourg ran sixth to Rebel’s Romance in the Group One Breeders’ Cup Turf (2,400m) at Del Mar in November last start.
The five-year-old and star jockey Ryan Moore will bid to deliver O’Brien a fourth Hong Kong Vase. The Ballydoyle maestro’s only HKIR successes have come in the HK$24 million feature courtesy of Highland Reel (2015 and 2017) and Mogul (2020).
O’Brien will also run Continuous, the winner of last year’s Group One St Leger (2,800m) at Doncaster, in the Vase.
The Heart’s Cry colt led and faded to run 10th in the Group One Champion Stakes (2,000m) on soft ground at Ascot last start.
“Things haven’t worked for him this year, but he’s in very good form,” O’Brien said.
“A mile and a half will suit him well, if there’s an even pace that will suit him as well. I’m very happy with him.”
O’Brien’s other two runners, Content and Wingspan, will attempt to thwart Romantic Warrior’s bid for a record third Hong Kong Cup victory.
Content broke through for her first Group One success in the Yorkshire Oaks (2,371m) in August, while Wingspan was runner-up at the elite level in October’s British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes (2,321m).
“Content’s obviously a very good filly,” O’Brien said.
“We saw what she did in the Yorkshire Oaks that day. Things just haven’t worked for her in her races since then, but she is in good form.
“Wingspan is a filly that’s improving all the time and gets a mile and a quarter well and relaxes very well. She will go forward, she doesn’t have to make [the speed] but we’ll be happy to make it and she should get the trip very well.”
Content and Wingspan are aiming to become the first three-year-old filly to win the Cup since Snow Fairy in 2010.
Moore will ride Content, while Wayne Lordan will ride Wingspan and Continuous.
While conceding he might not have his strongest HKIR team this year, O’Brien is positive his quartet can make an impact.
“Obviously they’re not favourites but they are very well,” he said. “We believe that it could happen. Obviously, it’s difficult. Variables that you don’t control have to fall, that type of thing, but it is possible.
“This is a very special meeting. I don’t think this time of the year anyone would want to be anywhere [else]. I think it’s exciting for racing all over the world [that] we can bring these horses together and we can get a handle on where the best horses are and who’s the best.”
