Racing: Nicholls stands Proud in Hong Kong sprint

THE TRAINER David Nicholls will now have two runners, Rudi's Pet and Proud Native, in the Hong Kong International Sprint at Sha Tin on 12 December. Nicholls already knew Rudi's Pet was a runner, but Proud Native was a reserve and needed a horse to drop out.

Proud Native, owned by Peter Savill, the BHB chairman, has not been seen out since winning the Taby Open Sprint Championship at Taby in September. Nicholls said: "I could not be happier with both horses. We saw how good Proud Native was when he ran second in the Nunthorpe at York, and Rudi's Pet's form is there for all to see, he has not stopped improving. Alex [Greaves] will ride Proud Native. She has ridden out there and two years ago she finished second in a race on Ladies Purse Day, in fact she was unlucky not to win it. Kieren [Fallon] rides Rudi's Pet.

"The journey is 12 hours, but both horses are good travellers. There are some decent American horses in the line-up and the other English runner, Tedburrow, is no slouch. It is a straight course, just like York so I don't think the draw will be a problem. Rudi's Pet does not mind making it and Proud Native does not mind coming off a fast pace - make no mistake we are not going out there just for the good of our health."