EI. EI. Oh. Japan sneezed, Australia caught a cold and the Jockey Club reached for a rum toddy. It didn't matter anyway. The Cathay Pacific Hong Kong International Races are down to business and it's first class. Forget the economy, fasten your seat belt because they'll fly. Fabre, Saeed, O'Brien, Freedman, De Royer-Dupre, Dettori, the big names are here.
Dylan Thomas. The drunken poet from Swansea, out for his swansong. He said an alcoholic is someone you don't like, who drinks as much as you do. His jockey used to drink but doesn't now. Harry Potter says he's playing catch up but the boy wizard's been letting his hair down. Who even knew they sold lemonade in Lan Kwai Fong? Maybe the Arc winner has a hangover? Rest assured he will not go gentle into the good night. The rascal's ready to run Red Rocks ragged, but if it's a fight he wants that suits Quijano, a fighter, a winner. Schiergen's been before and gone out with Llareggub backwards. Maybe today's the day. Then there's Doctor Dino. Paris. Singapore. New York. London. He's winning the race for Asia Miles with Dylan. No jet lag here, The Doctor is in.
All eyes on the Sprint. They say it's a match. Didn't your mother tell you not to play with matches? Many a match has been blown out.
There's the Andretti team but this ain't no IndyCar race. Gate 12. Who knew it? Froggie Newitt. He has to jump, get a fly. Maybe the Andretti machine will get a drag into the race. Why Be or not Why Be? The lion will roar but for how long? That's the question.
When the dust settles will the Kingdom still be sacred? Heir to Silent Witness or a chasing tails? Yiu's won with Fairy King Prawn. He's in for the krill with Sacred - but he gets to keep this one. Scintillating stuff to decide the Absolute Champion. That name should have been a hint last year, but this time you've been warned. Is there one to wreck their day? Benbaun's already smashed the Abbaye. And watch the Birdie.
The Cup is small but select, Frankie said, but was quieter on whether Ramonti leads. The miler has to stretch 400m. Doesn't sound a long way till you're pulled that far by your eyelid. Stanley Ho knows a winner when he sees one - hey, the guy owns casinos. John Moore wants to take on the world with Viva Pataca. Go crazy. Live the Viva loca. Or can Rain exact Vengeance? Ferraris and Co got Horse Of The Year but they're still hurting from the Champions & Chater.