BECKHAMPTON trainer Roger Charlton's Captain Cat will wear cheek pieces for the first time in Sunday's Hong Kong Mile.

A dual Group Three winner this season, he also won at Lingfield on All-Weather Championships Finals day in what has been a lucrative campaign.

Arguably his finest performance came when he was fifth, beaten only four lengths, in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot at the end of the season.

However, Charlton is well aware of the task he faces against the likes of Able Friend and Gold Fun.

"I fly out to Hong Kong to join Captain Cat tomorrow evening. He left us last Friday and he settled in to HK on Saturday," said Charlton on www.rogercharlton.com "My assistant James Horton is out there and is happy with him. His temperature has been normal and his limbs are in good shape.

"He currently weighs what he did when he won his races at Salisbury and Haydock this year, and therefore doesn't need to do a lot of work.

"As you would expect for a £1m race, it is competitive. Able Friend is a serious horse and I suspect everyone would be very surprised if he got beat.

"I watched him come through the handicap ranks last year when our old horse Dundonnell was making his debut in HK. He destroyed the field that day and has gone from strength to strength.

"Currently there are 11 runners, which is smaller than normal, as they are able to accommodate 14. At the moment there is a chance that Ambitious Dragon may not make the race due to an off-fore foot infection.

"Aside from Able Friend, there is Gold Fun who is very consistent and Glorious Days, all of whom have the advantage of being local horses, and train on the track. The foreign raiders are not unbeatable.

"He will be declared tomorrow morning with James Doyle and cheek pieces (rather than a hood or blinkers which he has worn before). He worked with great enthusiasm with them on before he left for the Far East.

"I am told the track is currently on the quick side and in good shape, which should suit."