Wednesday morning at Sha Tin was fast-work day for Japanese horses, seven of them taking to the grass course for a range of blowouts leading into Sunday's Hong Kong International Races. 

Among the workers was Deirdre, whose highly unusual campaign saw her spend the summer and fall training and racing in Europe. Deirde, here to start in the Hong Kong Vase over about 1 1/2 miles, didn't come out to train Tuesday morning, keeping to Sha Tin's international quarantine facilities - which includes a trotting ring -- but breezed about three furlongs Wednesday under race rider Oisin Murphy. Hong Kong Jockey Club clockers caught her final 400 meters in 22.5, and Deirdre appeared to work well enough, though she perhaps lacked sparkle coming back after the breeze. Murphy, who has ridden Deirdre her last three starts, was more focused on not doing too much with Deirdre than doing too little in the work.

"At the 600 [meters pole] she picked up and kind of sprinted up the straight. I did plenty with her. She’s plenty fit, and she’ll just do light exercise now until race day," he said.

Murphy rides the Japanese horse Persian Knight, a longshot, in the Hong Kong Mile, and on Wednesday termed the Japanese colt Indy Champ "the one to beat" in the race. Indy Champ, who won the Group 1 Mile Championship in his most recent start, had a less-than-ideal work Wednesday morning, going 35.10 seconds for 600 meters on my stopwatch but cocking his head sharply to the left from about the 400 meters to the 200 meters. It appeared Indy Champ was looking at something on the apron or grandstand, which is what assistant trainer Kenichi Shono said to HKJC publicity also was his impression. Whatever the motivation, the workout was less than ideal four days before the HK Mile.

Also working for the Mile was the 4-year-old filly Normcore, timed in a robust 21.3 by HKJC clockers for her final 400 meters. Normcore was kept hard on the outside fence through her workout and moved energetically after wanting to do more than canter slowly, the training she was given on the turf course Tuesday morning. In May, Normcore won the Group 1 Victoria Mile at Tokyo Racecourse.

Admire Mars, yet another Japanese runner in the Mile, blew out 600 meters with a slightly slower (22.1) closing 400 but traveled encouragingly enough.

Lucky Lilac, the Japanese filly who starts in the Vase, also was timed in 21.5 for her final 400 meters, though she was put to the crop through the final 200. 

Aidan O'Brien's trio of horses here cantered on the dirt track, Anthony Van Dyck (HK Vase) following Mount Everest (Vase) with Magic Wand (HK Cup) bringing up the rear. The horses fanned out coming into the homestrech while picking up their tempo to a moderate work pace while never changing position. All three are scheduled to train on turf Thursday morning. 

Also worthy of note: Prince of Arran, who had a very difficult trip finishing eighth in the HK Vase a year ago, has made as good an impression as any international HKIR runner the last two mornings. As on Tuesday, he was full of life out on the dirt track and was allowed to stretch out through the homestretch this morning, going his last 400 meters at a workout pace.