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| Staff Writer |
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Over the past 24 editions of the LONGINES Hong Kong International Races, master trainer Andre Fabre has consistently shown his support for the event with a total of 18 runners. This makes him one of Europe's most consistent participants in the meeting.
Junko, who carries the colours of Alain and Gerard Wertheimer, is a strong contender in this year's Gr.1 Grosser Preis von Bayern. The Wertheimer family is known for their successful owner-breeder operations in France, stretching back three generations to the 1950s, and are most famously associated with the mighty Goldikova. Trainer Andre Fabre has already had success with two winners over 2400 metres in the Gr.1 LONGINES Hong Kong Vase, and also saddles Godolphin's Tribalist in the Gr.1 LONGINES Hong Kong Mile. Tribalist tuned up for his meeting with Golden Sixty and California Spangle with a cosy success at Saint-Cloud in mid-November.
"They had very good ‘prep' races and in many ways a good racing calendar," says Fabre.
"They are both racing fit and I'm very happy with them.
"The races in Hong Kong are getting more and more difficult to win."
It's been a rare occurrence for European horses to triumph at Sha Tin in early December, with only three wins in the past 32 individual Group Ones on the card. Since Fabre's Flintshire won the LONGINES Hong Kong Vase in 2014, only Aidan O'Brien's horses have been successful in the same race, with Highland Reel (2015 and 2017) and Mogul (2020) taking the title.
Despite this, Fabre has still proven his worth in the LONGINES Hong Kong Vase, with Flintshire, Talismanic, and Botanik finishing second, and Waldgeist taking a somewhat unlucky fifth place in 2018. Junko's appearance alone will command respect, having previously finished sixth in the Gr.1 Dubai Turf in March and stepping up to 2400m for the first time in the Gr.1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud.
"The good thing is that he is now proven over a mile and a half (2400m)," says Fabre, who also took the Vase in 1999 with his first Hong Kong runner, Borgia.
"Before he was running over a shorter distance but he's proved that he stays well. That will help him, as will a good pace."
Heading to Hong Kong for the LONGINES Hong Kong Vase is Maxime Guyon, who previously won the race aboard Flintshire in 2014. Guyon, who recently won his third champion jockeys' crown in France, missed the ride in Germany as he was competing at the Breeders' Cup in California.
The LONGINES Hong Kong Mile has been dominated by the home team and Japanese-trained horses since 2004 when Godolphin's Firebreak won the race under Frankie Dettori. However, Tribalist will be Fabre's third runner in the 1600m event and is expected to put up a good fight. Known for his ability to maintain a lead at left-handed Saint-Cloud, Tribalist has also shown winning form on good to soft ground and right-handed going at Chantilly.
"My only concern is it's 100 yards too far," says Fabre of Tribalist.
"He's more of a seven-furlong horse than a miler when there is a strong pace.
"But he is a horse with a big heart and if you look closely at his form, he is close to the best milers in Europe. He's tied in with Facteur Cheval and he's able to win a Group One for sure."
Fabre is known for his extraordinary dominance in his home country and worldwide success in Group One races. His excellence has also been evident in Sha Tin, where he will be returning for the 2023 LONGINES Hong Kong International Races with the formidable duo of Junko and Tribalist, whom no rival would dare to underestimate.