Wigmore Hall shuns big screen

The second and third-place finishers from last month's Dubai Duty Free at Meydan Racecourse hope they fare better in Hong Kong than the horse that beat them.

Last week, the Dubai Duty Free winner Presvis hardly made a statement for the strength of that US$5 million (Dh18m) race, finishing sixth in the Champions Mile at Hong Kong's Sha Tin racecourse.

This afternoon, River Jetez, who finished second at Meydan, and Wigmore Hall, who finished third, will line up for the Group 1 Audemars Piguet QEII Cup at Sha Tin.

The Sha Tin course has a giant television screen to rival the one that stands opposite the grandstand at Meydan, and Wigmore Hall has clearly not learnt from his experience in Dubai.

The four-year-old has been playing up in his morning track work in the special administrative region, where he has to work alone.

"I don't think he much likes that big screen," said Michael Bell, Wigmore Hall's trainer.

"He's one of the live candidates if he reproduces his form in Dubai where he was unlucky in his run. He's fit now and ready to go in spite of this behaviour."

Yesterday, Godolphin's Ocean War won the Makfi Newmarket Stakes. He was trained by Mahmood al Zarooni and ridden by Mickael Barzalona. Campanologist took fourth in the Group 1 Jockey Club Stakes, ridden by Franki Dettori and trained by Saeed bin Suroor.

At Goodwood, Anna Salai took second in the Conqueror Stakes. She was trained by al Zarooni and ridden by Ahmad Ajtebi.

At Longchamp, Godolphin's Ley Hunter finished fifth in the Group 1 Prix Air Mauritius. He was ridden by Maxime Guyon and trained by Andre Fabre. Margravine, also trained by Fabre and ridden by Guyon, was sixth in Le Royal Palm.

* with agencies