English/Ire
Sosie out to give Fabre a record-breaking fourth Hong Kong Vase victory
“He looks a good fit for this race and might stay in training next year”
Andre Fabre will look to edge ahead of trainer Aidan O'Brien in the race to become the winning-most trainer of the Hong Kong Vase when he saddles the high-class four-year-old Sosie at Sha Tin on Sunday.
Fabre has become something of a master when it comes to judging what type of horse is required to land the value winter prize, saddling Borgia to claim success in 1999 before both Flintshire and Junko added to the tally in more recent years.
This year, Fabre relies on Sosie who will be looking to uphold placings with the reopposing Giavellotto having finished one spot ahead of him when taking home the bronze medal in this season's Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.
The son of Sea The Stars could only finish last of six against Delacroix and Ombudsman in Coral-Eclipse at Sandown in July, but will head to Hong Kong looking for a third Group 1 success of the season having already won both the Prix Ganay and Prix d'Ispahan at Longchamp earlier in the year, and with Sha Tin's quicker ground expected to suit, Fabre believes his latest contender certainly ticks plenty of boxes.
"He did a good piece of work at Saint-Cloud and since then he has done some canters," said Fabre, "He looks alright and they are happy with him in Hong Kong.
"Sosie looks a good fit for this race, and he might stay in training next year, we'll see what Sunday brings."
"The good ground should suit him and the track at Sha Tin is perfect for him. It's a very fair course and there is usually a strong pace so any horse should be able to show his best form there."
Carrying the colours of powerhouse owner-breeders Alain and Gerard Wertheimer, Sosie will be looking to replicate the success of the Fabre-trained Junko a couple of years ago and after connections watched their contender stretch his legs on the track on Friday morning, vibes were evidently positive in the camp.
Pierre-Yves Bureau, racing manager to Alain and Gerard Wertheimer, said: "He ran a brilliant race in the Arc and we were delighted,"
"He's a beautiful horse who has an awful lot of power under the bonnet.
"His coat remains fantastic; he's in great shape physically and I think he has a real chance on Sunday."
On the prospect of facing a stellar line-up that includes a quintet of Group 1 winners in the shape of Giavellotto, Al Riffa, Los Angeles, Goliath and Urban Chic, Bureau added: "I think nearly every horse in the line-up is here because they have produced one or more big performance through the course of the year and any one of them that brings their 'A' game could win,"
"I think it's really important that we are coming here with a horse who's had a superb year, and we just need things to go right.
"He's only had one disappointing race all year, and apart from that, he has been superb. He has delighted us each time and I think he will have a big say on Sunday."
Check out the latest Singapore News