Hong Kong Vase (Group 1)
EPSOM Derby winner Anthony Van Dyck could only manage a disappointing 12th as Joao Moreira secured the first of two Group 1 victories in Sha Tin lasat Sunday, aboard the Tomohito Ozeki trained Glory Vase in the Longines Hong Kong Vase (2400m).
Glory Vase was the first of three winners on the night for Japan-based horses, and jockey Joao Moreira was complimentary of the horse that was winning his first Group 1.
He said: “The horse settled well and I was in a tricky spot for a while. But he handled it well, there was an opening and we got our shot to go.”
Japan trained runners filled three of the first four places, with the Christophe Soumillon-ridden Lucky Lilac, and globetrotting Deirdre filling second and fourth places. Oisin Murphy, was hopeful there was more to come from Deirdre next season: “I think she needs a break now and I am sure she will do great next year.”
Aidan O’Brien was of a similar opinion for Anthony Van Dyck saying: He’s had a busy year. We’ll put him away now and he’ll be lovely next season.”
Beat The Clock scores for home team
Hong Kong Sprint (Group 1)
TRAINER John Size and jockey Joao Moreira spoke of vindication and feeling humbled in an unusually emotion-charged response to their win in the Longines Hong Kong Sprint with Beat The Clock over 1200m.
Moreira declared he would cherish the win “all his life” while Size wiped away a tear or two after the ever-reliable Beat The Clock beat stablemate Hot King Prawn with the new star Aethero, the 1/5 favourite, the same margin back in third.
“This will be in the back of my mind all my life. I’ve been associated with this horse for quite some time.
“He proved today that he’s the best sprinter in Hong Kong and the best part of it is I think there’s more to come from him,” Moreira said.
Size made reference to the horse’s character when asked about his remarkable consistency.
He said: “It’s his will to win and fighting spirit; all the good things that good horses have, he has all those attributes.
“He used every ounce of energy in his body in today’s effort. It means plenty to win here. It’s always meaningful to perform well at international level in front of your home crowd.”
The win was the trainer’s third HKIR success. “And eight seconds, I haven’t forgotten those,” he said.
Trainer John Moore did not despair at the defeat of Aethero.
“He didn’t win but was gallant in defeat. Zac (Purton) said that when he went for him at the 200 (metres), he was expecting something there - that they could kick away a bit but it wasn’t there. He changed legs and that was the difference. He’s definitely still an exciting horse.”
Win Bright holds off the fast finishing Magic Wand
Hong Kong Cup (Group 1)
WIN Bright produced a display of both guts and determination to complete the Group 1 double of the Longines Hong Kong Cup and April’s QEII Cup for trainer Yoshihiro Hatakeyama and jockey Masami Matsuoka.
In doing so, the son of Stay Gold held off the late lunge of Aidan O’Brien’s Magic Wand to assure the 2019 Longines Hong Kong International Races meeting was a memorable one for Japanese horsemen and fans alike, as Win Bright was the third Japan trained Group 1 winner of the night.
It was a fine ride from Matsuoka, who retained the ride on the Win Co Ltd owned colt, at a time when many owners have sought the skills of visiting jockeys. Win Bright was the only horse among nine sent from Japan across the four Group 1 races to be partnered by a home-born jockey.
“It went the way we were expecting,” Matsuoka said. I thought the pace would be slow so I wanted to sit third or fourth. I was very happy it all went to plan.”
The jockey was quick to pay tribute to trainer Yoshihiro Hatakeyama’s efforts on peaking Win Bright on the day that mattered most after two below par runs.
Hatakeyama started out in the mid-1980s as a JRA work-rider and Win Bright’s two triumphs in Hong Kong are the fulfilment of lifelong ambitions sparked by a spell riding out in Ireland under trainer John Oxx, a man he described as “a great teacher.”
“When I started training I used to dream all the time about sending my horses to the big overseas Group 1 races and I have been waiting for days like this ever since I got my training licence 20 years ago.”
The Ballydoyle team will rue another luckless passage for Magic Wand who was seeking to double her Group 1 tally after victory in the MacKinnon Stakes in Australia.
Smartly away and never far off the pace, Moore came off the rail in search of racing room but was forced to wait a fraction before getting past Furore and onto the heels of Win Bright. Moore said: “She ran super, she was unlucky. She’s very game.”
The best of the Hong Kong trained contenders proved to be The Caspar Fownes-trained Rise High who ran a big race under Vincent Ho, finishing a short-head and half a length behind Win Bright and Magic Wand.