RACING/News Round-Up: Europe's top horses are having the final touches put on their preparations ahead of next weekend's International Races in Hong Kong.

And for Ireland, Dermot Weld, who was successful in California last weekend, will launch another international raid when Agnetha runs in the Hong Kong Sprint.

Agnetha, owned by Weld's mother, will attempt to maintain the phenomenal strike rate which Weld has reached in Australia and America.

After winning the Melbourne Cup with Media Puzzle, Weld was successful at Hollywood Park when Dressed To Thrill lifted the Matriarch Stakes.

"I am hopeful of a big run from Agnetha, but I will have nothing in the World Series Hong Kong Cup," Weld said.

British trainers will be sending a strong team to the event on Sunday week, and many are having their last pieces of work before flying out.

Marcus Tregoning's Mubtaker, winner of the Group Two Geoffrey Freer Stakes, will have his final serious piece of work later this week before he flies out to Hong Kong on Sunday.

"He seems in very good form," said Tregoning. "He took his time to recover from Dubai in March and he has not had much racing. He is better now and and I am sure there is a Group One race in him. He'll stay in training next season."

John Gosden is another who will give his Hong Kong contender a final spin before flying out. Gosden saddles Golden Jubilee Stakes winner Malhub in the Hong Kong Sprint and is planning a trip to Lingfield for the four-year-old.

"Malhub hasn't run since his second in the Diadem Stakes in late September, so he will breeze-up at Lingfield with a lead horse tomorrow and then work on Saturday. It is the end of a long year for the European horses, who have been on the go since February, but he is in good form."

European runners have a poor record in the Sprint, but a strong team is heading for the event, including David Nicholls' dual Group One winner Continent, Slap Shot from Italy and Zipping from France.

Meanwhile, at Sha Tin, Grandera pleased his connections in a six-furlong workout with Atlantis Prince on Wednesday.

The four-year-old, winner of the Irish Champion Stakes on his last run in Europe, is firmly on course for the Hong Kong Cup.

Godolphin's racing manager, Simon Crisford, said: "Grandera worked well and is in good shape. We expect him to run well and he will return to Dubai after the race."

Last year's Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup runner-up Commanche Court has been well-backed with Coral to go one better next March.

The nine-year-old, trained by Ted Walsh, is 14 to 1 from 25 to 1 for the Cheltenham showpiece.

Also in demand for the Gold Cup is his stablemate Rince Ri, who has been cut by Coral to 25 to 1 from 33 to 1.

"It appears both horses were given out by a well-known telephone tipster, but it's the gamble on Commanche Court that has really had us running for cover," said Coral's David Stevens.