THE high-class performer Station Hand will not have another outing before the Group Two Hong Kong International Cup (1,800 metres) at Sha Tin on December 10, writes Graeme Kelly.
'He likes his races spaced so that's what we are doing with him,' said Gary Fennessy, the Flemington foreman for Station Hand's trainer Peter Hayes.
'The horse had three runs in 17 days and that's plenty for him. Now we are giving him the chance to freshen up and, taking into account the flight over to Hong Kong, he should be just right for the International Cup.' Station Hand, who will be ridden in the event by Darren Gauci, is a six-year-old but has raced only 25 times for seven wins, four seconds and three thirds for winnings of A$554,490.
He produced one of the best performances of his career when third - beaten just over two lengths - behind Octagonal and Mahogany in the Group One A$1.5 million The BMW Cox Plate (2,020 metres) at Moonee Valley on October 28.
At his only subsequent appearance Station Hand finished a close-up sixth behind Danewin in the Group One A$301,000 Mackinnon Stakes (2,000 metres) at Flemington on November 4.
HONG KONG International Vase entry Royal Snack produced a respectable performance even though he finished out of the money in the A$100,000 Bendigo Cup (2,400 metres) on Thursday.
Ridden by Patrick Payne, who will have the mount at Sha Tin, Royal Snack had an interrupted run and was forced a long way back in the middle stages.
