Freddie Head reports Moonlight Cloud to be as good as ever as she prepares for the Longines Hong Kong Mile at Sha Tin on December 8.
The French trainer believes the five-year-old mare remains in superb shape after she chalked up Group One win No.6 with a scintillating display in the Prix de la Foret at Longchamp.
“Moonlight Cloud is very well and we intend to run her in the Hong Kong Mile,” said Head.
“She seems to be getting better with every run, and although the race is late in the year, she is very fresh and I am very happy that she is as well as she was during the summer.
“For the moment she is in half work, but in two weeks she will start her preparation and then we will probably ship her to Hong Kong a week before the race. I think the race is good for her.”
Others among 101 entries are Richard Hannon’s QEII victor Olympic Glory and his four-times Group One-winning stablemate Sky Lantern, who has also been nominated for the Hong Kong Cup.
Cirrus Des Aigles is set to make his annual visit to Sha Tin, featuring among 95 Hong Kong Cup possibles.
Fifth in the Vase in 2009, he was seventh in the Cup in 2010 and fifth in 2011 only to miss last year’s race due to a late setback.
The seven-year-old showed he was no back number when a close second to Farhh in the Qipco Champion Stakes at Ascot.
“Cirrus Des Aigles has come out of Ascot very well and is likely to go for the Hong Kong Cup,” said Barande-Barbe.
