AIDAN O’Brien has made a strong entry for the Hong Kong International Races at Sha Tin on Sunday, December 9th.

The Ballydoyle trainer, whose only two successes at the meeting so far have both been courtesy of Highland Reel (Vase 2015 and 2017), has engaged 15 horses across the four invitational races which range in distance from six furlongs to a mile and a half.

Among O’Brien’s contingent is his Melbourne Cup favourite Yucatan, who has been given entries in both the 10-furlong Cup and Vase over a mile and a half. The trainer’s son Joseph has his Mackinnon Stakes hopeful Latrobe in the Vase too.

Dermot Weld, who made international racing history when saddling Additional Risk to win at this fixture in 1991, has entered the filly Eziyra for both the Cup and Vase.

Tipperary trainer Denis Hogan has a surprising entry in the shape of Hall Of Fame, a six-year-old by Teofilo who was stakes-placed for Jim Bolger as a juvenile but who has not raced since finishing down the field in Qatar in February 2017.

There is €10.4 million on offer across the four international races and they have attracted 262 entries, including 67 individual Group 1 winners.

Japan’s star filly Almond Eye is among the host of top-class nominations. Trainer Sakae Kunieda’s brilliant three-year-old recently completed Japan’s Fillies’ Triple Crown and is unbeaten this year from a mile to 12 furlongs.

Among the most interesting European entries are Cloth Of Stars, Waldgeist and Talismanic from the powerful André Fabre stable; North America’s exhilarating pair Mind Your Biscuits and Imperial Hint; Japan’s standout speedster Fine Needle, crack miler Mozu Ascot and 2016 Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) winner Makahiki.

Australia is also well-represented, with 24 horses in the 2018 nominations notwithstanding the Australian government’s current ban on horse movements from Hong Kong to Australia.

IRISH ENTRIES FOR HK

INTERNATIONAL CUP (10f):

Cliffs Of Moher, Magic Wand, Mendelssohn, Rhododendron, Rostropovich, Yucatan (all Aidan O’Brien), Eziyra (Dermot Weld), Hall Of Fame (Denis Hogan), Latrobe (Joseph O’Brien)

INTERNATIONAL MILE (1M):

Gustav Klimt (Aidan O’Brien)

INTERNATIONAL SPRINT (6f):

Gustav Klimt, Lost Treasure, Spirit Of Valor, U S Navy Flag (all Aidan O’Brien)

INTERNATIONAL VASE (12f):

Capri, Cliffs Of Moher, Hunting Horn, Idaho, Kew Gardens, Magic Wand, Rostropovich, Yucatan (Aidan O’Brien). Eziyra (Dermot Weld), Hall Of Fame (Denis Hogan), Latrobe (Joseph O’Brien)