Fans here do not need to be reminded of the strength of the Japanese horses – the country’s remarkable record at the LONGINES Hong Kong International Races (HKIR) and in particular over the past few years have shown that all of the arrivals must be treated with the utmost respect.

It has been the same in the other key meetings in Dubai and Saudi Arabia, too. It is fascinating to watch the meticulous detail with which the staff work and, having spoken to many people about the exact reasons why the Japanese thoroughbreds have become so successful, they often say it is not only because the horses have improved, but because the trainers have too.

I love watching their runners out on track in the mornings, usually immaculately turned out in matching kit. My eye was drawn immediately to the exuberant Jack d’Or, who is fresh and well and looks every inch the rising young star in the HK$34 million G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Cup (2000m).

However, I detected plenty of confidence from the Japanese visitors about his compatriot Panthalassa, who was given the most extraordinary front-running ride in the Tenno Sho Autumn a few weeks ago before being caught on the line by the very exciting Equinox.

These two battled out a tight finish in the Sapporo Kinen back out in August but I just wonder whether Panthalassa’s trainer Yoshito Yahagi, famous in Hong Kong for his brilliant preparation of Loves Only You last year, had left a little improvement in him still to come at that stage, as he was working back up from dead-heating with Lord North in Dubai in late March, which is smart form.

I think Panthalassa just might edge Jack d’Or for the dapperly-dressed Yahagi in a Japanese dominated finish here.

Being Europe-based, my brief this week has been to report on Aidan O’Brien’s Irish trio Order Of Australia, Broome and Stone Age, who arrived here fit from long seasons of long-haul travel. O’Brien carefully selects those that can thrive on regular racing for trips such as this and the best of his three should be Stone Age, one of two in the HK$22 million G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Vase (2400m). 

Inheriting the trademark versatility and durability of his sire, the late, great Galileo, Stone Age is the potential improver in the field as the only three-year-old and his second to the underrated Rebel’s Romance in the Breeders’ Cup Turf is the best piece of recent form on offer.

Takayuki Yasuda famously trained Lord Kanaloa to two wins in the Hong Kong Sprint and won the same race in 2020 with the stallion’s son, Danon Smash, so I suspect he knows exactly what he needs to bring to the meeting.

Danon Scorpion, another lightly-raced son of Lord Kanaloa, had hardly put a foot wrong going up the grades and did not have the best luck when looking for a run in the Mile Championship last time, with his jockey looking after him when his chance had gone and catching the eye as he passed the line in 11th place.

The local heroes Golden Sixty and California Spangle are very obvious contenders once again but Japan’s Danon Scorpion, who has radiated good health to my eye during trackwork, might just be the horse to disrupt an established order in the HK$30 million G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Mile (1600m).

It is lovely to see Singapore bringing a horse to the party and I wish the best of luck in the HK$24 million G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint (1200m) to trainer Dan Meagher and connections of Lim’s Kosciuszko, who has proved an absolute superstar and is just about untouchable at Kranji.

This will be a totally different level of competition and this prize will most likely be staying at home, probably between the admirable Wellington and the up-and-coming Lucky Sweynesse, but I suspect the Singapore runner, a compact sprinting type, should outperform his long odds.