AMERICAN challenger Journalism looked in fine condition on the grass at Sha Tin yesterday morning when most of the International Cup and Bowl horses enjoyed a spin.
Journalism was allowed to breeze up the straight by his Bowl rider Corey Nakatani who is very highly rated by trainer Wally Dolase who also happens to be his father-in-law! The strapping five-year-old bay lengthened impressively for Nakatani without being asked to run time and looked ready to run close in the Bowl which doesn't look such a competitive event as the Cup.
The Australian runner in the Bowl, Capestad, is known to have had a slight problem or two since arriving after an interrupted trip over from Melbourne.
He came through 800 metres in 55.2 seconds with a final quarter up the straight in an easy 25.4.
He didn't appear to go as well or fluently as Journalism but his rider, the incomparable Mick Dittman, is adamant that he must be given serious consideration in tomorrow's $4 million Bowl.
Dittman watched Capestad every step of the way in his work on the grass yesterday from his vantage point on the first floor of the Sha Tin trainers' stand.