Hong Kong's first-ever Breeders' Cup runner, Rich Tapestry, drew ideally for the US$1.5 million Xpressbet Sprint for North America's biggest two days in horse racing.
The Michael Chang Chun-wai-trained sprinter became one of the favourites for the race with his Group One Santa Anita Sprint Championship win earlier this month over the same 1,200m dirt course - defeating last year's Breeders' Cup winner Secret Circle - and he emerged with gate six in the field of 14. "I'm happy - six is much better than 14," said jockey Olivier Doleuze, who has ridden twice before at the Breeders' Cup meeting but some years ago when based in France.
"From what I know of the other runners, the main two to beat are drawn directly inside me - Secret Circle and Private Zone - so it will be nice to be able to keep an eye on them."
Local commentators suggested there was speed drawn under Rich Tapestry in gates 1, 2, 4 and 5, while the runners drawn out in 10, 11, 12 and 13 are fast sprinters who will look to put pressure on the front runners.
"Obviously, it was great to win the last time but that was a field of five. This will be very different," Doleuze said. "Not only is it a bigger field, a bigger race but last time the local jockeys probably weren't too worried about the Irish-Hong Kong-French entry.
"This time, they will know us and know we have a chance and they will be thinking about where we go and what we do. But that's OK, that's horse racing when you run in these kinds of races."
Doleuze said the ideal scenario would allow him to save Rich Tapestry up again to finish the race off and the layout of the draw seemed to suit, on paper.
"If there is speed inside and then others coming from outside to pressure them, that sounds good.
"In American racing, they really do put some pressure on," he said.
"But a lot can happen in a race once the gates open, so it's hard to plan. Rich Tapestry always jumps very good, he has the early speed to be up there and then I will see what is happening in the race.
"The main thing is that I hear the horse is healthy and fine. I'm looking forward to it."
In other international-related news, the Jockey Club will release the list of entries for the Longines Hong Kong International Races on Thursday. Free entries closed on Monday, although supplementary entries are still possible, with a late payment until November 24.
In recent days, Australia's Criterion and Singapore's new star sprinter, Spalato, have been touted by connections as likely visitors to Sha Tin in December.
Meanwhile, jockey Eddy Lai Wai-ming, who fortunately suffered only bruising when he was dislodged after the start and then dragged behind his mount for several seconds at Sha Tin last weekend, is optimistic about returning to riding as soon as Sunday.
