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US sprinter Green Mask became the first overseas raider to test the Sha Tin turf ahead of Sunday week’s LONGINES Hong Kong International Races.
The American contender galloped in isolation under Hong Kong’s champion jockey Joao Moreira on Tuesday morning.
Third at his last start in the G1 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (1100m), Green Mask is slated to line up in the HK$18.5 million G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint (1200m) on December 13 when US jockey Joel Rosario will take the reins.Trainer Wesley Ward’s stable representative Mike Clark was on hand to lead Green Mask on to the track.
The Mizzen Mast gelding displayed a touch of what Clark confirmed to be his usual character, stopping a couple of times in front of the grandstand before relenting to canter away to the backside under Moreira.The four-year-old was in full flow passing the vacant stands second time as he strode through the final 800m in 48.1s (600m 25.7, 400m 22.4).
“Green Mask changed legs a couple of times but that is to be expected for a horse coming from the US where they race left-handed,” said Moreira, who has previously ridden for Ward in North America.“He was thinking about things at first, but once we straightened up he galloped as they wanted him to.
“They wanted him to go around 47 or 48 seconds and he was able to do that, no problem.“Wesley is a real horseman, a good trainer. I galloped the horse today because his trainer is a good friend who gave me opportunities in the past.
“Hopefully they will do well.””Green Mask arrived at Sha Tin’s quarantine stables last Thursday, four days ahead of any of his fellow international raiders.
“Wesley likes to get them in early,” said Clark. “The horse travelled over fine and he’s happy.“He’s never race this way around (right-handed) so Wesley wanted to get out and get a couple of works into him going the wrong way.”
Moreira is booked to ride Peniaphobia in the HK$18.5 million sprint.The local star was runner-up in the race 12 months ago before going on to fill the same berth behind the re-opposing Sole Power in Dubai’s G1 Al Quoz Sprint (1000m), a race in which Green Mask was third.