Racing: Hong Kong races on horizon

Xcellent is among four New Zealand-trained entries for international races in Hong Kong in December.

The star galloper, who heads New Zealand's challenge at the Melbourne spring carnival, has been entered for the Hong Kong Cup (2000m) and the Hong Kong Vase (2400m). Both races are run at Sha Tin on December 11.

Also entered for the Hong Kong Vase is Auckland Cup winner Bazelle while other New Zealand entries for the Hong Kong Cup are Miss Potential and Shinzig. The latter pair are also nominated for the Hong Kong Mile (1600m) on the same day's programme.

The other international race on the day is the Hong Kong Sprint (1000m) for which the only New Zealand entrant is Mi Jubilee.

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French jockey Christophe Lemaire believes the tight turns of Belmont Park in New York hold no fears for New Zealand-bred Starcraft in the Breeders' Cup Mile on October 29. Lemaire continues his association with trainer Luca Cumani's 5-year-old after the pair lowered the colours of Dubawi at Newmarket in England last month in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes. That win followed their win in the Prix du Moulin in France.

Said Lemaire: "He is able to run well all over the world, which he has proved before, winning in Australia, New Zealand, France and England.

"He can adapt wherever he goes and I am sure the Belmont Park track will suit him very well."

Starcraft, who won twice in New Zealand last year, is a general 3-1 chance for the Breeders' Cup Mile.

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Last year's Melbourne Cup runner-up Vinnie Roe has been sold.

The deal was completed as the horse travelled from Ireland to Australia to compete in the Melbourne Cup. The horse arrived in Melbourne yesterday after 60 hours.

Upon his arrival it was revealed Irish stud Coolmore had purchased Vinnie Roe but the sale will be in stages.

The grand stayer will continue to run for current owners Jim Sheridan and New Zealander Michael Watt, but Coolmore will be entitled to half the cup prizemoney - first is worth A$3 million. Eventually, Coolmore will stand Vinnie Roe at stud.

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Mnemosyne bounced back from her defeat in the Flight Stakes to give trainer John Hawkes and jockey Darren Beadman more group one glory in the Thousand Guineas (1600m) yesterday.

It was a decade between Guineas' successes for Hawkes whose only previous win in the 3-year-old fillies' feature was with Shame in 1995.

Mnemosyne just failed to become the first filly since Angst in 1993 to make a clean sweep Sydney's Princess Series when she was a close third to Fashions Afield in the Flight Stakes (1600m) at Randwick on October 1 after winning the first three legs of the lucrative series.

Beadman gave Mnemosyne the run of the race yesterday and she charged home to down the David Hayes-trained Rewaaya with Serenade Rose third.