Australia’s only entrant for Sunday’s Hong Kong International Race Day at Sha Tin, In Her Time, is ready to take on a star studded field in the Group 1 HK$20m Longines Hong Kong Sprint (1200m).
In Her Time, above in yellow and black colours, is in great shape heading towards the 2019 Hong Kong Sprint at Sha Tin in Hong Kong. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.
Leading Newcastle trainer Kris Lees has In Her Time primed for her third run this campaign following a first up ninth in the $14m The Everest (1200m) at Randwick on October 19 and a third in the Group 1 $2m Darley Sprint Classic (1200m) down the Flemington straight on the last day of the 2019 Melbourne Cup Carnival.
“She is pretty fit now, and we won’t do a lot with her,” Lees said on his website.
“In Her Time will have every chance to make her presence felt at Sha Tin as this will be only her third start this preparation, so she is definitely not at the end of a campaign.”
In Her Time is a two times Group 1 winner with victories in the $700,000 Galaxy (1100m) at Rosehill during the 2018 Sydney Autumn Carnival and in the $750,000 Black Caviar Lightning (1000m) at Flemington during the 2019 Melbourne Autumn Carnival.
Sydney based jockey Brenton Avdulla has been aboard In Her Time at her two runs this preparation and will be riding for the first time in Hong Kong on Longines International Race Day.
“So I’ve seen the track first hand and plenty of it, of course, on television,” Avdulla told the Hong Kong Jockey Club’s Racing News Desk.
“It’s a nice, big, fair course and it’s no issue to ride there for the first time. You tend to know the horses there as well, especially the sprinters, as we see them regularly and that’s a plus as well.”
“You know there’s a lot of depth among the Hong Kong sprinters. They’re all very decent horses and now we’ve got the up and coming three-year-old Aethero who looks pretty special so maybe we’re up against it.
“However, the Australian sprinters almost always measure up wherever they go and she (In Her Time) is very consistent. You can forgive her run in the Everest when she returned this season and then her second-up run at Flemington was full of merit. She beat home Group 1 winners like Santa Ana Lane and Alizee.
“The draw will be important. I know everyone says that but in her case, I’d want her to get as cosy a run as possible. I don’t know whether she can win but I am really looking forward to riding her and whatever happens, I don’t think she’ll be disgraced.”
Final declarations for the Hong Kong Sprint will be taken on Thursday December 5 and in pre-post betting at Ladbrokes.com.au In Her Time is on the fourth line at $12 while John Moore’s rising star, three year old Aethero, sits at the top of the market order at $2.10
Early betting for the 2019 Hong Kong Sprint at Ladbrokes.com.au: $2.10 Aethero, $5.50 Beat The Clock, $7 Hot King Prawn, $12 In Her Time, Mr Stunning, $16 Seasons Bloom, $17 Regency Legend, $18 Danon Smash, $21 Full Of Beauty, Wishful Thinker, $26 Rattan, $34 D B Pin, $61 Ivictory, $101 Little Giant.
