Hawkeyethenoo on Hong Kong standby

Published on 22/11/2012 00:00

Jim Goldie still has Hawkeyethenoo on standby for the Longines Hong Kong Sprint at Sha Tin on 9 December.

The Uplawmoor trainer is still waiting to hear if his Stewards’ Cup winner has been given a place in the Group One contest over six furlongs. He said: “We’re supposed to be going to Hong Kong but we’re still waiting to hear from them, so I don’t know.

“If Hawkeyethenoo was going he would have to travel at the end of the month. They have been preparing us to travel. All the vaccinations have been done but we haven’t been told we’re going yet.”

Whether Hawkeyethenoo travels or not, Goldie is already looking forward to a domestic programme in 2013, with the Golden Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot the main objective.

“The Golden Jubilee would be his obvious target,” added Goldie. “He runs well at Ascot, his form there is first class.”

Goldie also has a rare runner in Ireland when he sends the veteran Nanton to Dundalk 
tomorrow and, to rubber stamp his intentions, Goldie has booked the newly-crowned Irish champion jockey Joseph O’Brien for the ride on the grey in the mile-and-a-half handicap.

“We’re going there because the prize money is better in Ireland and he’s on good form so we thought why not?” said Goldie. “We’ve also booked an interesting jockey. I thought we’d start at the top by trying to get Joseph and we have.”

l Officials at Market Rasen have announced an inspection for 8am ahead of their meeting today. The ground at the Lincolnshire venue was yesterday described as soft and acting clerk of the course Robert Bellamy believes it is sensible to check on conditions in the morning.

Market Rasen are hoping they can beat the weather, especially after the loss of today’s two other jump cards at Hereford and Wincanton. Yesterday’s Warwick was also abandoned.