Over the past three years, Japanese horses have won every international race in Hong Kong bar the Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Sprint but in 2004 it`s quite possible that the biggest threat to the reigning local champion, the undefeated Silent Witness, will come from the Land of the Rising Sun.

Calstone Light O is the horse concerned, and trainer Hiroyuki Oneda can`t wait for the opportunity to topple the record-breaking local legend.

Hong Kong race fans witnessed Calstone Light O make all in the Sprinters` Stakes (JpnGr.1-1200m) last month when Cape Of Good Hope � expected to renew rivalry on December 12 - closed off well to take third, over four lengths behind on a soft Nakayama surface.

Oneda knows he won`t get a muddy track or a soft lead in the world`s richest 1000m sprint, something he is relishing.

"He broke the track record at Niigata for 1000m in 53.7 seconds on fast ground when he won the Ibis Summer Dash [JpnGr.3, in August 2002], so he prefers fast going, that suits him best," he said.

Recent race trends are against Calstone Light O, however. Four Japanese sprinters have tackled the world`s richest five-furlong event (in 2001 and 2002) and fared no better than 10th place. Furthermore, Australian-bred horses have won all five renewals of the Sprint � Calstone Light O, the winner of nine of 31 career starts, is a Japanese-bred six-year-old entire.

But unlike some of his compatriots, Calstone Light O is a superb performer over 1000 m as well as 1200 m.

"He has not had a break since the Sprinters Stakes. He has been at the Ritto Training Centre doing his daily trackwork and he is in good form. He is selected for Hong Kong and he must have a great chance. I am excited about taking on Silent Witness," Oneda said.