The owners of German galloper Fantastic Moon have confirmed the four-year-old colt will not line up in next month’s Group One Hong Kong Vase, while the participation of French superstar Goliath in the 2,400m staying test remains up in the air.

Fantastic Moon’s trainer, Sarah Steinberg, suggested a trip to the Longines Hong Kong International Races (HKIR) was unlikely after her charge’s 11th in Sunday’s Group One Japan Cup (2,400m) and that was confirmed on Monday.

“Finishing 11th in the Japan Cup, Fantastic Moon appeared a bit tired in the final furlong. It was a long season for him. We’ll pass on the HK Vase and fly him home for the next leg of his career at Ebbesloh Stud. You gave us memories we’ll treasure forever,” Lars-Wilhelm Baumgarten from Liberty Racing posted on social media.

Goliath was a solid sixth behind the brilliant Do Deuce in the Japan Cup, with owner John Stewart acknowledging that “there are no excuses. While the pace was slower than anticipated, we expected this outcome”.

On an international mark of 125 after his victory in July’s Group One King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2,400m) at Ascot, Goliath – if he were to run – would be the highest-rated overseas raider seen at Sha Tin’s marquee meeting in nearly a decade.

However the four-year-old, who is an $8 fourth elect for the Vase in overseas fixed-odds markets, is considered unlikely to board his flight from Tokyo to Hong Kong, which is booked for Wednesday.

The withdrawal of Fantastic Moon is expected to see the John Size-trained Ensued switch HKIR assignments, with the galloper poised to tackle 12 furlongs for the first time in his career in the Vase, for which he is a reserve, rather than taking his place in the Group One Hong Kong Cup (2,000m).

Successful in the Group Three Sa Sa Ladies’ Purse (1,800m) two starts back, Ensued was no match for Romantic Warrior when fourth in the recent Group Two Jockey Club Cup (2,000m) and it’s believed connections are keen to avoid a rematch with the city’s best horse on Hong Kong’s biggest race day.

Fantastic Moon is the first withdrawal from the fields of 14 released by the Jockey Club last week, however Group One Hong Kong Sprint (1,200m) reserve Mugen was taken out by Pierre Ng Pang-chi last Friday, meaning the first emergency for that contest is now the David Hall-trained Flying Ace.

In other HKIR news, Cup runner Massive Sovereign will step out at Tuesday morning’s Sha Tin trials, with this year’s Hong Kong Derby (2,000m) hero to stretch his legs over 1,600m under Zac Purton.