Three-time Group One winner Werther has been withdrawn from the Longines Hong Kong Cup (2000m) on Sunday after succumbing to a suspensory injury.

Japan uses the western calendar but also gives names to eras based on the reigns of emperors. The current era, called “Heisei”, started in February 1989 and will end on 1 May, 2019, when the current Emperor Akihito will abdicate his throne to his son.  

Born in Brazil, but representing Great Britain, Silvestre de Sousa scored points in all four legs of the LONGINES International Jockeys Championship at Happy Valley on Wednesday evening to run out the convincing and deserved winner.

Singapore trainer Stephen Gray was happy to help out a fellow Kiwi on Tuesday morning as his HK$20 million G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint contender Lim’s Cruiser “buddied up” with the Chris Waller-trained Comin’ Through for a stroll down the Sha Tin straight and reconnaissance of the saddling paddock. 

Hong Kong Jockey Club stewards' reported late Wednesday afternoon that pre-race veterinary examinations of all local and international entrants for Sunday’s Hong Kong International Races have been undertaken.

Sydney’s Chris Waller is not exactly taking a brisk course suggested by the name of his HK$25m, Group 1 LONGINES Hong Kong Mile (1600m) runner, Comin’ Through (AUS), but there is an undeniable sense of a firm plan about his international ambitions.

Trainer Jimmy Ting’s fine start to the season continued in Sunday's opening Ashley Handicap (1800m), when Holy Unicorn led throughout under Dylan Mo. The success takes Ting’s tally to 18 for the term, second only to Tony Cruz. 

Happy Tour, who looms as an exciting graduate of the Hong Kong International Sale, set the Sha Tin All-Weather Track alight on Sunday with a class record breaking win by five lengths in the Middle Handicap (1200m) which was arguably the standout performance of the meeting. 

A crucial barrier trial at Sha Tin Racecourse on Friday appeared to signal all is well with Pakistan Star and Time Warp ahead of the LONGINES Hong Kong International Races a week on Sunday.

Veteran Newmarket handler David Elsworth is looking forward to a return to Hong Kong to saddle Sir Dancealot in the G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint (1200m) at Sha Tin, a track he visited as long ago as 1990, when he sent Landyap to finish fourth in the Hong Kong Cup.

Sir Michael Stoute’s Mirage Dancer will bid to continue Khalid Abdullah’s golden end to 2018 by carrying his owner’s famous green, pink and white silks to victory in the HK$20m G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Vase (2400m) at Sha Tin on 9 December.

Hong Kong’s jockey roundabout is spinning into overdrive as the biggest week of the year approaches and Silvestre de Sousa is aiming to capitalise at Sha Tin this Sunday (2 December) as he replaces Chad Schofield on two highly-promising youngsters.