Oisin Murphy will not only keep the ride on LONGINES Gr1 Hong Kong Vase contender and Canford Cliffs star Salouen on 9 December at Sha Tin but UK trainer Sylvester Kirk reports that it was instant advice from the brilliant Irish rider that determined the Hong Kong adventure.
Canford Cliffs son Salouen in action
Lambourn-based Kirk said: “It was about five seconds after Oisin got off Salouen following the Arc that he suggested Hong Kong was the direction we should be heading towards.”
Murphy has ridden almost 200 winners globally during 2018 and has partnered a string of G1 winners including Roaring Lion, Benbatl, The Tin Man and Lightning Spear.
He was partnering Salouen for the first time in Europe’s greatest race and – despite a slow start and interference near the finish – the pair were beaten just three and three-quarter lengths in finishing sixth of 19 behind superstar filly Enable at ParisLongchamp in early October.
Back in June Salouen came close to a famous front-running G1 victory, only edged out of Coronation Cup glory at Epsom in the last strides.
The fact that Cracksman – who now heads the LONGINES World’s Best Racehorse Rankings with Aussie supermare Winx – overcame Salouen by just a head that day gives a clue as to just how good the four-year-old can be.
Oisin Murphy
Kirk took Salouen to Kempton Park racecourse earlier this week, and, with Murphy on board, he worked over 1600m. “I really don’t think Salouen has ever been better,” said the trainer, who can’t wait for his first-ever visit to Hong Kong.
His multiple Gr1 winning sire Canford Cliffs now stands his first season at Ridgemont Highlands.
Salouen, who impressed when a game sixth – despite being baulked for a run – behind superstar Enable in the 2018 Gr1 Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe was just touched off when a close second in the Gr1 Investec Coronation Cup earlier in the year, is now likely to be aimed at a major race in the East in 2018.
He also received an invite prestigious Gr1 Japan Cup which will be run on November 25th.
Canford Cliffs
Salouen has been placed in five group/stakes races this season, with his other notable efforts including a third place finish in the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud and a fourth place finish in the Gr1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes.
Now an earner of more than £420 000, Salouen accounted for a number of G1 winners when sixth in the Arc on Sunday – with his defeated rivals including the likes of St Leger hero Kew Gardens, Breeders’ Cup Turf hero Talismanic and G1 Prix du Jockey Club victor Study Of Man.
