Top sprinter Buffering has drawn a middle barrier for his introduction to international racing in the Hong Kong Sprint.
Passed fit after recovering from a foot abscess, Buffering will line up from barrier eight in a field of 14 at Sha Tin on Sunday.
Gordon Lord Byron, a winner in Australia during this year’s Sydney autumn carnival, has gate two with Ireland’s Sole Power in barrier five.
ATC Australian Derby winner Criterion will have to overcome a deep alley to win the Hong Kong Cup.
The four-year-old has drawn barrier nine in a field of 12 as he steps out for the first time for co-trainers David Hayes and Tom Dabernig.
Criterion changed stables after finishing fifth in the Group One Mackinnon Stakes at Flemington last month.
He was trained in Sydney by David Payne who won five races with the entire including last season’s Rosehill Guineas and the Australian Derby.
Criterion will be reunited with his Guineas and Derby-winning jockey Hugh Bowman for the first time since a narrow Caulfield Stakes defeat in October.
He will be joined in the Cup as an overseas runner by French star Cirrus Des Aigles, Farraaj from England and Archimedes from Japan.
Farraaj, which finished ahead of Criterion in the Mackinnon when a gallant third to Happy Trails, will launch his Cup bid from gate six.
Cirrus Des Aigles has gate four, outside Archimedes (two) and Designs On Rome (three).
Two-time Melbourne Cup runner-up Red Cadeaux will start from gate eight in the Hong Kong Vase.
Red Cadeaux won the Vase in 2012 after finishing eighth in both the Melbourne Cup and Japan Cup.
The veteran of world racing returns to Hong Kong after running second to Protectionist in the 2014 Melbourne Cup last month.
Zac Purton will lead the charge for Australian jockeys when he rides in the four Group One races.
Compatriot Nash Rawiller will be reunited with Hana’s Goal when the Japanese mare runs in the Hong Kong Mile.
Rawiller won the All Aged Stakes on Hana’s Goal in Sydney in April.
