CHAMPION River Verdon has home ground advantage and a competitive racing weight as he bids to win an International Races event for the second time.
River Verdon has ruled supreme in Hong Kong for the past four years and his previous Invitation Cup victory - as it then was - came three years ago when he beat the Irish challenger Prudent Manner.
Since then he has made local racing history by running in America and Australia, but it is on home ground that he has been totally effective - and loyal fans at Sha Tin today will be hoping that he can fly the flag for Hong Kong in the inaugural running of the $4.5 million International Vase.
River Verdon failed in his bid to win either the Cox Plate or Melbourne Cup during his Australian odyssey.
He returned to local action with a fighting fifth over 1,800 metres in the St Andrew's Challenge Quaich two weeks ago - an effort that pleased his trainer, David Hill. ' He returned from Australia having lost 36 pounds which was really surprising as there were two flights and two top races during the month or so he was away. ' He put 24 pounds of the weight back on before the St Andrew's race and I was extremely pleased with the way he ran,' said Hill.
In a congested field in the straight, River Verdon made up ground along the rail, but may not have enjoyed coming through horses.
Said Hill: 'River Verdon does seem to prefer to come round horses rather than going through a field. I don't think it was vitally important in that particular race because it would have been difficult for him to win the way the race was run.' River Verdon was coming back in distance from the 3,200 metres of the Melbourne Cup in which he did not stay, but was not disgraced.
