KEY POINTS:
Te Aroha horseman Graeme Nicholson thinks the experience of international racing is having more of an impact on him than his "people's champion" Sir Slick.
Nicholson could not stop saying "it's just out of this world" when asked what it was like being in Hong Kong for the
HK$14 million ($2.3 million) Queen Elizabeth II Cup (2000m) at Sha Tin racecourse tomorrow.
But he said Sir Slick had handled his first trip overseas like it was a stroll to his normal training track.
"The guy who handled him on the trip said he's the most boring horse he had ever had to look after," said Nicholson.
"He said the horse never caused any problems at all. He just stood in his box and didn't do a damn thing.
"When we got here the vet took his temperature and said it was incredible because it was just normal."
Since arriving, Nicholson said Sir Slick had settled in well to his box - "it's air conditioned, just out of this world" - and got down to business with some useful track gallops in the hands of regular track rider Roxanne Ratley.
"He did very light work on Monday and did a quiet 1000m gallop on Tuesday, though he ran his last 200m in 11 seconds," Nicholson said.
"On Thursday morning he had quite a good hit-out and everybody stood and watched him with their mouths open."
Sir Slick has won five group one races at home, including two this season, both at weight-for-age over 2000m, the same conditions he faces on Sunday. Nicholson, who was surprised at how many local media were seeking him out, said the local trainers had plenty of respect for Sir Slick.
"The trainers that have horses in the race just fear him really," he said.
"When I drew barrier one there was about five trainers who said 'ooh'."
Palmerston North jockey Bruce Herd will ride Sir Slick, who is expected to try to lead all the way.
Sir Slick will have to be at his very best to be competitive in a very good international field tomorrow which includes five other runners trained outside of Hong Kong.
The best chances of the foreign contingent are probably last December's Hong Kong Cup (2000m) third placegetter Musical Way, from France, and the German Quijano, runner-up in the Hong Kong Vase in December and fourth in the Dubai Sheema Classic last month (both 2400m).
Archipenko, formerly trained in Ireland by Aidan O'Brien but now in the hands of South African Mike de Kock, also looks a solid chance after his unlucky third in the Dubai Duty Free (1777m), finishing ahead of New Zealand mare Seachange.
Japanese chance Matsurida Gogh may find 2000m too short, while the second French entrant, Balius, has to improve as he has never contested a group one race before.
Viva Pataca, second in both the Hong Kong Cup and the Dubai Sheema Classic, heads a six-strong local contingent.
The best of the other locals are the Hong Kong Derby winner Helene Mascot, sixth in the Epsom Derby last year when racing as Salford Mill, and Derby runner-up Jackpot Delight, who raced in New Zealand as Hamlets Ghost.
- NZPA