Hong Kong stablemates Dominant and Sterling City seem certain to be international drawcards for the Sydney autumn carnival.
Trainer John Moore says both horses will be aimed at races during The Championships, providing plans come to fruition to use Canterbury racecourse as a quarantine station.
Dominant
“It all hinges on Canterbury racecourse being used as the quarantine in Sydney – I’m not interested if they are using Werribee in Melbourne,” Moore told the South China Morning Post.
Dominant won last year’s Hong Kong Vase and will defend the title next month despite finishing down the track in a lead-up race on firm ground at Sha Tin on Sunday.
Moore will set Dominant for the $1.6 million Sydney Cup.
“He wants 2400 metres and farther so there aren’t many races here for him and he’d be a good chance to get softer, more suitable going in Sydney at that time of year as well,” Moore said.
Luck deserted Moore during the Australian spring when Dan Excel, who was being aimed at the Cox Plate, suffered a throat infection before the weight-for-age championship.
Sterling City, winner of the Golden Shaheen during the Dubai World Cup carnival, also finished among the tail enders on Sunday in his lead-in to the Hong Kong Sprint.
The TJ Smith Stakes could be the first race in a three-start Australian campaign that could also take in the Doomben 10,000 and the Stradbroke Handicap.
