Green Mask this morning (1 December) became the first overseas raider to test the Sha Tin turf ahead of this year’s LONGINES Hong Kong International Races, which will take centre stage in less than two weeks’ time. The American contender galloped in isolation under Hong Kong’s Champion Jockey Joao Moreira at around 9.30am.

Third last start in the G1 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (1100m), Green Mask is slated to line up in the HK$18.5 million G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint (1200m) on Sunday, 13 December when jockey Joel Rosario will re-take the reins.

Trainer Wesley Ward’s stable representative, Mike Clark, was on hand to lead Green Mask on to the track. The Mizzen Mast gelding displayed a touch of what Clark confirmed to be his usual character, stopping a couple of times in front of the grandstand before relenting to canter away and around the backside under Moreira.

The four-year-old was in full flow passing the vacant stands second time as he strode through the final 800m in 48.1s (25.7, 22.4).

“Green Mask changed legs a couple of times but that is to be expected for a horse coming from the U.S. where they race left-handed,” said Moreira, who has previously ridden for Ward in North America.

“He was thinking about things at first, but once we straightened up he galloped as they wanted him to. They wanted him to go around 47 or 48 seconds and he was able to do that, no problem.”

Green Mask arrived at Sha Tin’s quarantine stables on Thursday evening, a full four days ahead of any of his fellow international raiders.

“Wesley likes to get them in early,” said Clark. “The horse travelled over fine and he’s happy. He’s never race this way around (right-handed) so Wesley wanted to get out and get a couple of works into him going the wrong way.”

Moreira is booked to ride Peniaphobia in the HK$18.5 million contest, one of four G1 races at the LONGINES HKIR. The local star was runner-up in the race 12 months ago before going on to fill the same berth behind the re-opposing Sole Power in Dubai’s G1 Al Quoz Sprint (1000m), a race in which Green Mask was third.

“Wesley is a real horseman, a good trainer,” said Moreira. “I galloped the horse today because his trainer is a good friend who gave me opportunities in the past. Hopefully they will do well.”

The LONGINES HKIR also features the HK$25 million G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Cup (2000m), the HK$23 million LONGINES Hong Kong Mile and the HK$16.5 million LONGINES Hong Kong Vase (1200m).