John Bary orchestrates wonders for lonesome music-lover Jimmy Choux

New Zealand trainer John Bary has been training horses for less than four years, but he has relied upon his unique polo background and used some unorthodox methods to help solo traveller Jimmy Choux settle into his Hong Kong base.

The multiple Group One winner is the only competitor from Australia or New Zealand at this year's International Races and was forced to fly alone and is stabled on his own at the Sha Tin quarantine facility.

Bary said the Cox Plate runner-up 'fretted' at first without company, but the installation of a mirror and temporary sound system has quickly soothed the four-year-old's nerves.

'He has a mirror and an iPod playing some music. He is very happy with the mirror. He sits there and admires himself,' Bary joked, before detailing his extensive experience transporting horses: 'I've taken polo ponies to America and horses to Hawaii by boat.'

'It's pretty basic. You've just got to get them to settle well, travel well and eat well,' he said. 'He just fretted a bit because he didn't have anyone in the barn ... it's not ideal, especially for a Kiwi horse - they're used to a paddock in the afternoon and grass in their tummy. It's unfortunate we didn't have another Australasian horse up here with us.'

Bary said his horse was fast approaching his 'fighting weight' and 'had one of the biggest feeds he has ever had last night'.

Former jumps rider and race-day jockey Johnathan Riddell partnered the horse in a non-demanding turf workout yesterday. 'We will do another 600m hit-out on Friday and that should tighten him up,' the trainer said.