Racing: Docksider warms up on Hong Kong beat

DOCKSIDER, who finished third in the Breeders' Cup Mile in Miami a month ago, looked impressive yesterday as he limbered up at Sha Tin for Sunday's Hong Kong International Mile, the final fling of the Flat year for top-class horses.

The four-year-old, who will be having his last race on Sunday, delighted his Lambourn-based trainer, John Hills, with his well-being ,despite finishing the exercise in a sweat.

"He looks remarkable considering how far he has travelled and it is perfectly normal for him to sweat up at exercise," Hills said. "It would be great for him to retire to stud with a victory like the Hong Kong Mile under his belt."

Docksider, arrived in Hong Kong on Thursday after a 22-hour flight from Miami. The colt, who will be ridden by Olivier Peslier in the Mile, had been in America since his third to Silic at Gulfstream Park.

David Nicholls's speedsters Proud Native and Rudi's Pet left Britain yesterday on a 12-hour flight from Stanstead airport for their crack at Sunday's Hong Kong International Sprint. "It's a new experience for us," Nicholls said, "and we are looking forward to it.

"As long as there are no hiccups I don't think the travelling will bother either of them. We are going there with a shout and I don't know when we will get back if we have a winner."

Rudi's Pet and Proud Native will be ridden by Kieren Fallon and Nicholls's wife, Alex Greaves, respectively.