Breeders' Cup failure Among Men is out of next month's $7 million International Cup, paving the way for a return to Hong Kong for former England football captain and racehorse owner, David Platt.
The decision not to send Among Men was taken at the weekend by trainer Sir Michael Stoute after talks with the horse's powerful owners, John Magnier and Michael Tabor.
The Platt-owned Handsome Ridge is first reserve for the Cup and has been kept solidly in work for his Far Eastern trip.
'I have heard nothing official yet, but it will certainly be very good news for us if we are to go,' said Platt yesterday.
'I will be talking to John Gosden later, but when I spoke to him last, Handsome Ridge was being kept ticking over in the hope that he might get a callup for Hong Kong.' Among Men, who finished well back in his Breeders' Cup engagement, had been rated at best 50-50 for Sha Tin ever since the Kentucky race.
A spokesperson for Sir Michael said: 'The Breeders' Cup took quite a bit out of him, as did the travelling. It is not felt that he could give his best in Hong Kong so it was better not to send him.' The departure of Among Men leaves Irish ace Michael Kinane without an International Cup ride at this stage.
