Indigenous is poised to win the $4.1 million Hong Kong Gold Cup at Sha Tin today and confirm his ranking as the best stayer in training.
This is the second leg of the annual Triple Crown but hopes of the David Hayes-trained Smashing Pumpkin, who won the first leg, sweeping the three races are not high.
Indigenous finished third in the Stewards' Cup, which is the first leg of the annual staying event, back in November but has not been in better shape this season and will start at short odds to win today's important Gold Cup.
His biggest threat looks to be stablemate Oriental Express but Indigenous would be favoured slightly over the 2,000-metre distance of the Gold Cup.
Both horses go into today's race for champion trainer Ivan Allan after superb displays in the 1,000-metre Centenary Cup which is the second leg of the annual Sprint Series.
Indigenous looked no real chance in the Centenary Cup so his third placing behind Fastest Star was full of merit, particularly in the context of today's race.
