AIDAN O’Brien will run three horses in the Hong Kong International Races at Sha Tin on Sunday week [December 12th] and Jim Bolger is sending a runner too.

Mother Earth (33/1) is the Ballydoyle representative in the HK$26 million (€2.95 million) Mile. The only three-year-old in the field, the teak-tough filly faces a mighty task against local star Golden Sixty (4/7 favourite), who has won his last 15 races including this event a year ago.

The O’Brien-trained Bolshoi Ballet and Bolger’s Mac Swiney will be joined in the 10-furlong Cup by the William Haggas-trained Dubai Honour as the only Europeans in the field. Dubai Honour and Mac Swiney finished second and third respectively in the Champion Stakes at Ascot last time out. Bolshoi Ballet is looking to bounce back from three comprehensive defeats in the US.

Aidan O’Brien has yet to win the HK$30 million (€3.4 million) Cup - his Magic Wand lost out by a short-head in 2019. Jim Bolger and Kevin Manning won the 2004 edition by a short-head with Alexander Goldrun.

Loves Only You, the Japanese-trained Breeders’ Cup winner, is the 7/4 favourite for the Cup, with Dubai Honour next on 3/1. Mac Swiney is 14/1 and Bolshoi Ballet is 25/1.

A three-length winner of the Vase last year, Mogul has not won since and is the 4/1 third favourite to give O’Brien a fourth success in the 12-furlong Group 1 next weekend. Heading the market for the HK$20 million (€2.25 million) content is the 2019 winner Glory Vase from Japan, with the William Muir-trained Pyledriver a close second favourite.

Ryan Moore is expected to ride all three Ballydoyle runners, while Kevin Manning is booked for Mac Swiney. Both jockeys will take part in the international challenge at Happy Valley on Wednesday.