Australians fare well at HKIR barrier draw

All three Australian raiders have drawn well at the HKIR barrier draw on Thursday, spearheaded by Melbourne Cup winner Without A Fight.

Drawn the rails for Sunday’s Group 1 Hong Kong Vase (2400m), Without A Fight lines up for just his second start since winning last year’s Cup.

“He was obviously a long time off the scene, and we were trying to get him ready for the Cup this year, but we were going to run out of time, so once we weren’t able to get there, we immediately looked at Hong Kong and the Vase was pretty quickly the target,” trainer Sam Freedman said.

While no match for Via Sistina in the Champion Stakes, the now seven-year-old held his own and it provided him with a solid platform for this event.

“It was a great first-up run and obviously it was a long time off and it was against one of the best horses (Via Sistina) in the world,” Freedman said.

“He closed it off well and might have felt the pinch a little bit in the last 100 (metres) but has tightened from that and had a nice trial in Melbourne before he got onto the plane and he is nice and forward.”

Hong Kong Mile contender Antino drew perfectly in barrier four, lining up on the inside of main danger and expected favourite Voyage Bubble .

An impressive winner of the Group 1 Toorak Handicap (1600m) two back, Antino proved very game in the Group 1 Champions Mile (1600m) last start and trainer Tony Gollan remains confident he can hold his form.

“I wouldn’t have taken him over here if I didn’t think he could hold his form. I was happy to go four weeks into Flemington, then four weeks into Hong Kong, I think that routine is spot on,” Gollan said.

“The race doesn’t look to have much pressure in it which suits us.”

The Ciaron Maher trained Recommendation faces an uphill battle if he is to defeat Ka Ying Rising in the Hong Kong Sprint, but has drawn barrier eight and is considered not without a place chance.