Trainer John Size is confident that Group 1 winner Glorious Days will run well first-up in the Group 1 Hong Kong Mile (1600m) at Sha Tin on Sunday.
Glorious Days has not been seen at the races since he finished 11th behind Lord Kanaloa in the Group 1 Yasuda Kinen (1609m) in Tokyo on June 2 at the end of his summer and autumn campaign that included a victory in The Stewards’ Cup (1600m), a third place finish in The Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup (1400m) and a fourth place finish in The Champions Mile (1600m).
The Hussonet gelding has had t two barrier trials since his run in the Yasuda Kinen, finishing third at Sha Tin on November 15 and second at the same venue on November 29, and Size told The Hong Jockey Club that he has been happy with the six-year-old performances but admitted that he won’t know what type of form his star galloper is in until he runs this Sunday.
“He has been ok and at home it seems obvious that he is as healthy as he has ever been,” Size said.
“The only reservation I would have is that he is not racing but as far his training, trialing and the way that he is doing it in the stable seems normal.
“We have to go to the races to find out but there are no negatives there and I am pretty positive that he will run well.”
It is strange for a locally-trained horse to go into a race on the Hong Kong International Raceday first-up but Size believes that it was the best option for Glorious Day, who has generally produced his best form when kept fresh.
“It was an option that I had and it looked as though that might be the best option for him,” Size said.
“He did a little bit ordinary during the summer and then I had to give him more time off than I would have to but at the moment I am pretty pleased about that.
“He has come back strong and he looks pretty good.”
Glorious Days ($8) is one the third line of 2013 Hong Kong mile betting; with French superstar Moonlight Cloud ($2.30) the clear favourite from Gold-Fun ($4) and Sky Lantern ($8), while Australian hope Linton is available at odds of $51.