應屆勇倫霸錦標冠軍「多樂谷」會視乎沙丘園經典賽表現，而決定來港參戰香港瓶
The Danny O'Brien-trained Douro Valley will use Saturday's Group Two Sandown Classic as a prelude to what connections hope will be a tilt at next month's Group One Hong Kong Vase at Sha Tin.
O'Brien said he deliberately bypassed the Melbourne Cup carnival to focus on the Hong Kong feature on December 14 with Douro Valley.
"We can't go to Hong Kong as an afterthought and we thought the Sandown Classic was the best way to get him there," O'Brien said.
"It depends on how he goes on Saturday but he is in great shape and hopefully he will run well."
Douro Valley won the Group One Yalumba Stakes (2000m) at Caulfield on October 11 before finishing 13th to All The Good in the Caulfield Cup (2400m) a week later.
Last year he was second to stablemate Master O'Reilly in the Caulfield Cup but O'Brien said luck deserted the gelding this year.
Michael Rodd will have his first ride on last year's Classic winner Zipping in Saturday's edition after Danny Nikolic was suspended on Crown Oaks Day.
On Monday Nikolic had his appeal against the careless riding charge dismissed and can't ride again until November 20.
Zipping finished second in the Cox Plate and ninth in the Melbourne Cup and looks the one to beat.
New Zealanders Capecover, Boundless, Red Ruler are also among the 19 nominations for the 2400m race.
Capecover won last Saturday's Queen Elizabeth Stakes while Boundless finished 15th to Viewed in the Melbourne Cup and Red Ruler was seventh to Theseo in the Mackinnon Stakes.
Wanganui trainer Alexander Fieldes said Capecover was at his peak last Saturday and was showing no signs of fatigue from his Australian campaign.
He said the Sandown Classic would be hard to win with Zipping in the field.
"I don't think we would have a hope against him at weight-for-age, but we will see what happens this week," Fieldes said.
He said he would consult with principal owner Kevin Myers about Capecover spelling in Australia or returning to New Zealand.
Other Sandown Classic entries include Anthony Cummings-trained Road to Rock, stablemate Zavite, Matriarch Stakes winner Bird Of Fire, Baughurst, Light Vision, Reggie, Chantal Sally and Ista Kareem.
Only 14 horses were entered for the Group Two Sandown Guineas (1600m) and nominations have been extended until Tuesday morning.
Danny O'Brien's Carbine Club Stakes second placegetter Lucky Thunder and the David Hayes-trained Myer Fashion Stakes winner Stokehouse head the nominations.
Others include Arjuna, who was second to Drumbeats in the Hilton International, Caymans, who was fourth in the Carbine Club and Dual Hemisphere.
Last-start winner Marveen, Purple, Dubai Miss and Mozambique are the only fillies entered.
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