FROM SHA TIN - WATCHING THE JAPANESE RUNNERS AT WORK – I AM STUNNED AND LOST FOR WORDS

By Darren Winningham | Friday, December 6, 2019

So much for taking it easy before your grand final on Sunday.

The Japanese looked like they had turned up and were racing!

On Wednesday morning at a cold and windy Sha Tin where Oisin Murphy put Nassau Stakes winner Deirdre through a rigorous workout just four days before her big day in the Hong Kong Vase.

Deirdre's country counterparts, Lucky Lilac and Normcore, then proceeded to tear off down the home straight like they were in the final 100 metres of the Vase on Sunday.

Not to be outdone the second wave of Japanese runners did the same with Glory Vase and Persian Knight reeling off some unbelievable work and sectionals.

Apparently, they could all repeat the process on Saturday morning at track work – I just don’t know how they do this!

Murphy was delighted with Deirdre, saying: "She is really fit and ready for the race. She understands what she must do over the week. She is in very good form and I hope she will keep the good condition to the end of the week."

The Japanese don’t do half-speeds it seems. They train how they play. Norcore clocked 51.3 seconds for the final 800 metres of her workout. She is seeking a hat-trick in the Mile after two wins in Tokyo.

"Everything has gone smoothly so far. She was able to grab the turf surface well with her feet and we have no concern about the track condition,” said trainer, Kiyoshi Hagiwara.

If the results at Sha Tin on Sunday were based on track work, the Japanese would be going home with a few Group 1 wins and a swag of Hong Kong prizemoney!

Let’s see if they have anything left to offer on Sunday – especially if they plan to scorch the Sha Tin track again on Saturday morning!

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