3 minute read

The draw for the 2012 Audemars Piguet Queen Elizabeth II Cup which will be run at Sha Tin on Sunday was held today.

The overseas runners had mixed fortunes: Chinchon got gate 1, which isn't all bad although he is a horse who is happier sitting back in the field but Ryan Moore should be able to control that. Treasure Beach, the O'Brien runner, got gate 13 which is sort of car park territory. Jamie Spencer will be riding him. Viscount Nelson got one of the preferred spots in gate 4, and Japanese runner Rulership will be in gate 8.

Sweet Orange, one of the local favourites got gate 2 to the delight of connections, and veteran Mr Medici gate 3.

This morning a fairly quiet trackwork session with Japanese runner Rulership doing paddock school. You could say there is a question handing over his head as the top part of his blaze looks like a question mark.

Last night's meeting at Happy Valley was highlighted with a dramatic thunder storm - one jockey fell off prior to one of the later races when his horse got spooked with the lightning. Conditions were pretty dire for the last 3 races as the rain came pouring down, tables in the stands were getting blown over and papers flying everywhere. Tim Clark won the jockey challenge and that's about the best result for the night.