FAIRY King Prawn and Indigenous, both previous winners at the International meeting, are set to spearhead a strong Hong Kong team in this year's extravaganza at Sha Tin a fortnight today.
The Ivan Allan-trained pair were among 17 domestic horses selected to represent Hong Kong when the fields for the four International races were announced yesterday by the Jockey Club.
Fairy King Prawn, who won the Hong Kong Sprint at the International meeting last year, steps up in trip this time to contest the Hong Kong Mile, while Indigenous will bid to repeat his 1998 victory in the Hong Kong Vase over 2,400 metres.
The Mile field also includes the improving Chevalier Cup winner Electronic Unicorn from Ricky Yiu's stable, while the David Hayes-trained Helene Vitality is another leading chance in the Vase.
The Sprint team is headed by Wong Tang-ping's dual Centenary Cup winner Best Of The Best. The Tony Cruz-trained King Of Danes, conqueror of Fairy King Prawn in last weekend's Sprint Trial Trophy, is another interesting representative in the 1,000-metre contest, along with Allan's consistent filly Crystal Charm.
The four domestic representatives in the Hong Kong Cup are headed by Brian Kan Ping-chee's Industrialist.
Keen Winner, the Hong Kong Derby winner who went on to finish fifth behind Industrialist in that contest, will bid to gain revenge for the Tony Millard stable.