Craig Williams believes he has been getting the right signals from Dunaden ahead of Sunday's Longines Hong Kong Vase
Craig Williams believes he has been getting the right signals from Dunaden ahead of Sunday's Longines Hong Kong Vase.
Last Updated: 05/12/12 9:14am
Mikel Delzangles's six-year-old globetrotter is the defending champion in the Sha Tin Group One, which he took after landing the Melbourne Cup.
Despite landing the Caulfield Cup in the lead up to his return visit for the great Australian race last month, he could only finish 14th at Flemington.
After Williams took him for a gallop over seven furlongs of the turf course at Sha Tin, he said: "He's great. He gave me a very similar feel as he did leading into the Caulfield Cup this year.
"He's fresh, which he needs to be as he's coming back in trip for this race.
"I wasn't worried about the clock this morning. I just wanted him to stretch out well and he did that, especially when he changed leads for me in the straight. He's happy and bright."
Among Dunaden's European rivals over a mile and a half will be Dancing Rain, the 2011 Oaks winner.
William Haggas' filly returned from almost a year off to finish third at Ascot on Champions Day and had a relaxed canter on the grass under the trainer's wife, Maureen. "Everything's fine with her," she said.