Toormore Bids For Hong Kong Glory
Toormore is out to cap a fine year in the G1 Longines Hong Kong Mile at Sha Tin on Sunday, December 13. The Richard Hannon-trained four-year-old has enjoyed an excellent campaign in Europe and beyond.
Time/Date - 15.50hrs local time /Sunday, December 13, 2015
Racecourse/Country - Sha Tin/Hong Kong
Surface/Distance - Turf/1m
Toormore is out to cap a fine year in the G1 Longines Hong Kong Mile at Sha Tin on Sunday, December 13.
The Richard Hannon-trained four-year-old has enjoyed an excellent campaign in Europe and beyond.
Toormore kept on well to finish third on his latest start in the seven-furlong G1 Qatar Prix de la Foret at Longchamp, France, on October 4.
He raced over a mile twice before that, comfortably winning the G2 International Topkapi Trophy at Veliefendi, Turkey, on September 6 and taking fifth behind Esoterique in the G1 Prix du Haras de Fresnay-le-Buffard - Jacques le Marois at Deauville, France on August 16.
The Arakan colt also scored at G2 level when making all in the seven-furlong Qatar Lennox Stakes at Goodwood on July 28.
Toormore was fourth in the mile G1 Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot in June, in which Able Friend finished sixth, and started 2015 with a neck second to Night Of Thunder in the G1 Al Shaqab Lockinge Stakes over the same distance at Newbury in May.
James Doyle, who has partnered Toormore on his four most recent starts, is in the saddle again.
Toormore arrived in Hong Kong on Monday after an uneventful direct flight from England. He cantered on the turf track on Wednesday morning, was led around for an hour on Thursday morning and exercised on the dirt track on Friday.
Richard Hannon, a regular visitor to Hong Kong, is having his first runner with Toormore on Sunday.
He said: "Toormore is fine and in good form. He travels well and has been to Turkey, France and now Hong Kong this year.
"He has got a bit to find with the best of them in this contest but he is tough and will run his race.
"He will love the tight turns and the quick ground. I would be very happy for him to get a lead on Sunday, as long as he is not too keen.
"He has had a break since the Arc meeting in early October and the Longines Hong Kong Mile has been his aim since then so we are looking forward to Sunday."
Toormore is drawn in stall nine and his 13 rivals include last year's impressive winner Able Friend, Japanese challenger Maurice and French hope Esoterique.
Toormore © Hugh Routledge
