John O’Shea could have his first international runners for Godolphin next month with Contributer and Bow Creek under consideration for the Hong Kong International meeting.
O’Shea has previously travelled Sea Siren (2012) and Racing To Win (2009) to compete at the December showpiece without luck when he was a public trainer.
“We wouldn’t go unless we were confident we could run very well,” O’Shea, who has been Godolphin’s Australian trainer since May last year, said.
“I love that meeting.
“I think it’s a real test of international racing because of where it’s situated logistically, where it is at the time of year, and it’s on grass.
“If you can win there, you’ve really done a good job.”
Bow Creek is nominated for the Hong Kong International Mile while the Hong Kong Cup would be the race for Contributer who finished third in Saturday’s Group One Mackinnon Stakes at Flemington.
“Contributer has just got a little foot abscess at the moment, but it did burst out this morning so we’ve got plenty of time until Hong Kong,” O’Shea said on Thursday.
“We’ve finally got him fit and finally got him on a bit of ground that he likes.
“I was really proud of him in the Mackinnon. I thought he really raced well.
“He’s going back to Sydney tonight and we’ll see how he goes when he gets there.”
Bow Creek will attempt to land his first Group One at his second Australian start in Saturday’s Emirates Stakes at Flemington.
O’Shea said they would get through that race before deciding the next move.
“Whether that would be ideal or not to go over and race that superstar over there (Able Friend), but he’d have to run well on Saturday,” O’Shea said.
“I was thinking he’s probably more like a Doncaster, Queen Elizabeth horse in Sydney next autumn, but I just don’t know about him in wet ground. It’s always a risk having a horse that doesn’t handle wet tracks in Sydney.
“So there’s a few options for him.”
Bow Creek, a Group Two winner, is considered the best-performed horse Godolphin has imported to Australia and has impressed since arriving in Melbourne.
He was an eye-catching second to Turn Me Loose in the Crystal Mile at Moonee Valley last Saturday week.
“He was terrific but he’s going to have to be extra terrific on Saturday,” O’Shea said.
“It’s a very strong field.”
O’Shea is wary of international Arod who was unplaced in the Cox Plate but had strong European form including a Group Two Summer Mile win in which Bow Creek finished last.
“If he was to win and beat Arod, you’d say he’s going pretty well,” O’Shea said.
“But I think it’s a full race.”
