Post Positions for Hong Kong Sprint, Vase

Silent Witness, unbeaten in seven starts Hong Kong, drew post 11 for Sunday's Hong Kong Sprint (HK-I). The Tony Cruz-trained runner will likely be the even-money favorite in the 14-horse field. The five-furlong race is run down a straightaway at Sha Tin Racecourse. In the 1 1/2-mile Hong Kong Vase (HK-I), likely favorite Imperial Dancer drew the outside post 14. The Sprint and Vase are the first pair of the four Hong Kong International Races.

Post 2 at Sha Tin has proven the best post in the straight races, hitting at 13% over the last five years. Local hope Firebolt drew post 2. South African runner National Currency, who has drawn raves in the mornings at Sha Tin, will break from post 6. Another interest in the field is the Australian Into the Night, trained by Keith Dryden.

"We'll have a cup of tea early and then finish hard," Dryden said of Into the Night's running style. Into the Night, a 5-year-old gelding by Rhythm, won his last start the Hilton International Stakes at Flemington after running second, beaten a neck in the Salinger Stakes (Aus-I). "He likes firm ground," Dryden continued. "He galloped over the sand (dirt track) and Darrin (jockey Beadman) said he loved it out there."

Hong Kong Sprint (HK-I), 5 furlongs, straight, turf, HK$10 million ($1.28 million), Dec. 14, Sha Tin
PP, Horse, Trainer, Jockey
1, Dantana, Rick Hore-Lacy, Damien Oliver
2, Firebolt, I.W. Allan, A. Marcus
3, Grand Delight, J. Size, Shane Dye
4, Into the Night, Keith Dryden, Darrin Beadman
5, All Thrills Too, David Hayes, Gerald Mosse
6, National Currency, M.G. Azzie, W.C. Marwing
7, Acclamation, L.G. Cottrell, Frankie Dettori
8, Bomber Bill, Robert Smerdon, S. Arnold
9, Deportivo, Roger Charlton, Richard Hughes
10, Cheerful Fortune, T.W. Leung, C. Williams
11, Silent Witness, Tony Cruz, F. Coetzee
12, The Tatling, J.M. Bradley, R. Moore
13, The Trader, M. Blanshard, Kieren Fallon
14, Cape of Good Hope, David Oughton, Mick Kinane

In the Vase, Imperial Dancer is coming off a sizable score in the 10-furlong Premio Roma (Ity-I). Likely second choice, Vallee Enchantee, trained by Elie Lellouche, won the Prix Conseil de Paris (Fr-II) at Longchamp in mid October. The 3-year-old filly faces older males and will carry 117 pounds in the Vase, nine less than the majority of the field. The daughter of Peintre Celebre also won the Prix de Pomone (Fr-II) earlier this year at Deauville after finishing seventh in the Prix de Diane (Fr-I, French Oaks).

Those two will face a solid cast in the Vase that includes international warriors Sabiango of Germany, Polish Summer from France, and Cox Plate (Aust-I) winner Fields of Omagh.

Hong Kong Vase (HK-I), 1 1/2 miles, turf, HK$14 million (approx. $1.8 million), Dec. 14, Sha Tin
PP, Horse, Trainer, Jockey
1, Warrsan, Clive Brittain, P. Robinson
2, Red Pepper, C.H. Yip, Doug Whyte
3, Vallee Enchantee, Elie Lellouche, Dominic Boeuf
4, Sabiango, Andreas Wohler, E. Pedroza
5, Fields of Omagh, Tony McEvoy, S. King
6, River Dancer, J. Size, Shane Dye
7, Polish Summer, Andre Fabre, Christophe Soumillon
8, Indian Creek, D. Elsworth, T. Quinn
9, Roosevelt, David Oughton, Mick Kinane
10, Kalabar, Pascal Bary, Thierry Thulliez
11, Fair Mix, M. Rolland, Gerald Mosse
12, Industrial Success, C.H. Yip, Jamie Spencer
13, Maktub, B. Grizzetti, Frankie Dettori
14, Imperial Dancer, M. Channon, T. Durcan