Hong Kong: 2-time Group 1 winner Shahryar is out of Vase

Shahryar, a two-time Group 1 winner who finished third in the Breeders’ Cup Turf last month at Santa Anita, was scratched out of Sunday’s Hong Kong Vase (G1) apparently because of an unspecified veterinary concern.

“The department of veterinary regulation, welfare and biosecurity policy have advised that Shahryar has been identified to have a potential health issue and therefore has been withdrawn,” Hong Kong chief steward Marc Van Gestel said in a news release just before Thursday’s draw.

Click here for the Hong Kong Jockey Club website.

The Japan-based, 5-year-old horse by Deep Impact arrived in Hong Kong two weeks ago on a flight from California. He was the first of the international shippers to arrive for the four Group 1 races that are the highlight of the colony’s racing season. Shahryar had been training on the Sha Tin turf course as recently as Wednesday.

The winner of the Tokyo Yushun (G1) derby in 2021 and the Dubai Sheema Classic (G1) in 2022 for trainer Hideaki Fujiwara, Shahryar represented Japan’s hope to win the 1 1/2-mile Vase for the third year in a row. Glory Vase won in 2021 and Win Marilyn in 2022.