On December 5, Soul Rush, set to compete in the G1 Hong Kong Mile, completed his final track work at Sha Tin Racecourse. Displaying impressive acceleration on the turf, the talented colt showcased his strong condition as he aims for back-to-back G1 victories following his triumph in the G1 Mile Championship.

Meanwhile, Tastiera, entered in the G1 Hong Kong Cup, sharpened up with a paired workout alongside stablemate Satono Reve, who is slated for the G1 Hong Kong Sprint.

Tastiera covered 4F in 54.1 seconds and 2F in 24.2 seconds, edging Satono Reve by half a length. Groom Takahashi was pleased with the effort, "The movement was flawless. He got a bit more motivated during the paired work, but it shows his eagerness and good condition," Takahashi noted.

As the 2023 G1 Japanese Derby winner, Tastiera has consistently been a contender in graded stakes races since his three-year-old campaign. While his form faltered late last year, he showed a resurgence in the G1 Tenno Sho (Autumn), where he ran a strong race from a prominent position, finishing second by just 0.2 seconds.

Now looking to reclaim his brilliance on the international stage, Tastiera has drawn barrier number 7 for the Hong Kong Cup. Trainer Noriyuki Hori emphasized the importance of strategic planning, "We will hold a meeting with the jockey to discuss tactics, considering the track condition, weather, race pace, and our draw alongside our rivals' positions," Hori remarked. With preparations complete, Tastiera aims to shine once again in Hong Kong.