Tag: Longines Hong Kong Vase

G60 Scores Four at Longines HKIR Barrier Draw

Two-time reigning Hong Kong Horse of the Year Golden Sixty (Aus) (Medaglia d'Oro) was allotted barrier four in a field of 10 mile specialists from Japan and Australia in addition to the locals as he shoots to equal the record of Good Ba Ba (Lear Fan) with a third consecutive victory in Sunday's G1 Longines Hong Kong Mile at Sha Tin Racecourse.

Winner under a five-pound penalty of the G2 BOCHK Jockey Club Mile when making his seasonal debut three weeks ago, the 7-year-old has won 22 of his 25 starts to date for record Hong Kong earnings of over HK$116 million. With his chief rival California Spangle (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) expected to make the running from gate two and with a pair of get-back runners in Schnell Meister (Ger) (Kingman {GB}) and 2021 runner-up More Than This (GB) (Dutch Art {GB}) drawn one and three, respectively, Vincent Ho should be able to pick his spot and let Golden Sixty do the talking late.

“I got what I wanted,” trainer Francis Lui told South China Morning Post. “He can sit midfield and stay out of trouble. [Golden Sixty] is ready.”

On an afternoon where some HK$110 million is on offer, the G1 Longines Hong Kong Cup over the metric mile and a quarter is the day's richest at HK$34 million, not to mention the most interesting from a tactical standpoint. Panthalassa (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) is one of four in the race for Japan and landed the eight hole, with trainer Yoshito Yahagi assuring that the dead-heat winner of this year's G1 Dubai Turf will not be difficult to find.

“I don't care about the barrier draw because I know one thing–he will go to the front,” the colourful Yahagi, conditioner of last year's Cup heroine Loves Only You (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), told the Post.

 

 

 

His compatriot Jack d'Or (Jpn) (Maurice {Jpn}), whose sire won both a Hong Kong Mile (2015) and Hong Kong Cup (2016), could make things at least a bit tricky, as he may be ridden for speed by Yutaka Take from his low draw in two. The once-beaten Hong Kong rising star Romantic Warrior (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) and James McDonald leave from barrier seven in what is clearly his toughest task to date.

For obvious reasons, double-digit alleys are not preferred in the G1 Longines Hong Kong Sprint, and gate 10 is not ideal for reigning champion sprinter Wellington (Aus) (All Too Hard {Aus}), though trainer Richard Gibson was taking it in his stride.

“Wellington, I'm pretty relaxed. He'll be finishing off from that draw, and that's maybe his forte. We're short of options. I haven't even spoken to Ryan [Moore], but at first glance, that's what we'll be doing,” he told SCMP.

Ryan Moore, who subs for the injured Alexis Badel, won the 2020 Sprint from the riverside draw aboard Danon Smash (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}). Conversely, the up-and-coming Lucky Sweynesse (NZ) (Sweynesse {Aus}) saw his already-strong hand fortified when landing a cosy slot in three.

Half of the field of 10 signed on for the G1 Longines Hong Kong Vase has shipped in from Europe, led by recent GI Longines Breeders' Cup Turf runner-up Stone Age (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). Half of an Aidan O'Brien-trained duo, the 3-year-old breaks from the inside stall and he should find himself in a race that is often times run at a crawl. Broome (Ire) (Australia {GB}) carries Yutaka Take from gate six, while Mendocino (Ger) (Adlerflug {Ger}, gate 7) and Bubble Gift (Fr) (Nathaniel {Ire}, gate 6) and Godolphin's Botanik (Ire) (Golden Horn {GB}, gate 5) have earned their right to tackle the race. Glory Vase (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) tries to make some history of his own as he goes for a third Vase in four years and second in a row and carries Joao Moreira from the four.

 

 

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Bolshoi Ballet To Miss Hong Kong Vase

Bolshoi Ballet (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) will not make the trip to Hong Kong for Sunday week's G1 Longines Hong Kong Vase (2400m), South China Morning Post reported Friday.

Ninth to Japan's Loves Only Your (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) in last year's G1 Longines Hong Kong Cup (2000m), the last of an eight-race campaign that saw him compete on three continents, the bay was given a chance to make a return trip to Hong Kong in the Listed Churchill S. at Lingfield Nov. 12, but he failed to shine, finishing fourth and beaten better than six lengths.

Trainer Aidan O'Brien will still be double-handed in the Vase with GI Longines Breeders' Cup Turf runners-up Broome (Ire) (Australia {GB}) and Stone Age (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), while Order Of Australia (Ire) (Australia {GB}) is to take on two-time Hong Kong Horse of the Year Golden Sixty (Aus) (Medaglia d'Oro) in the G1 Longines Hong Kong Mile.

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Hong Kong Horse of the Year Exultant Retired

Exultant (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}–Contrary {Ire}, by Mark of Esteem {Ire}), arguably the best stayer to be based in Hong Kong and the jurisdiction's Horse of the Year in 2019-2020, has been officially retired from racing, according to information on the Hong Kong Jockey Club website.

Bred by Belinda Strudwick's Co. Kilkenny-based Ballygallon Stud, Exultant was raced by his breeder as Irishcorrespondent in Europe and was trained by Mick Halford to a third-place effort behind Churchill (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Thunder Snow (Ire) (Helmet {Aus}) in unsuitably soft ground in the G1 Irish 2000 Guineas in 2017. Sold to Hong Kong as a Derby prospect following a fifth to Benbatl (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) in the G3 Hampton Court S. at Royal Ascot, Exultant was a running-on third in the Derby the following March, but hit his straps really and truly over further when taking out the G3 Queen Mother Memorial Cup (2400m) ahead of a runner-up effort to 'TDN Rising Star' Pakistan Star (Ger) (Shamardal) in the G1 Champions and Chater Cup over the same trip.

Exultant displayed the grit and determination that would come to define him during his next campaign, out-toughing future Japan Horse of the Year Lys Gracieux (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Ire}) for a breakthrough top-level success in the 2018 G1 Longines Hong Kong Vase (2400m) (see below) while becoming just the third locally based galloper to take out the race. He carried that momentum into the second half of the season, adding the G1 Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup (2000m) before the first of two successes in the Champions and Chater Cup.

 

WATCH: Exultant digs deep to win the 2018 Longines Hong Kong Vase

 

Only an undefeated season by Beauty Generation (NZ) (Road to Rock {Aus}) denied Exultant a Horse of the Year crown on that occasion, but he made amends during his next preparation, with four wins from seven appearances, including a tough-as-nails win over Derby hero Furore (NZ) (Pierro {Aus}) in the G1 FWD QE II Cup (2000m) (video) and a second straight Champions and Chater Cup. He was also third in the Hong Kong Vase after being forced to make the running from barrier 14.

Though he failed to greet the judge in his seven starts in 2020-2021, he was never disgraced, finishing runner-up to a primed Mogul (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) in the Vase in December while finishing third to likely Horse of the Year Golden Sixty (Aus) (Medaglia d'Oro) in defence of his title in the QE II Cup and in the Champions and Chater Cup in his final career trip to the post May 23. Zac Purton, also the regular partner of Beauty Generation, rode Exultant in his final 19 starts and in 25 of his 32 local appearances.

Exultant enters retirement with an overall record of 13-11-6 with 10 black-type wins from 36 runs and earnings of $10,656,066.

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Fifth In Breeders’ Cup Turf, Mogul Proves Best In Hong Kong Vase

Vindicating Aidan O'Brien's long-held faith, Mogul has emphatically underlined claims as heir apparent to Ballydoyle's throne after claiming victory in Sunday's HK$20 million Longines Hong Kong Vase (2400m) at Sha Tin.

Providing Aidan O'Brien's third triumph in the race, adding to Highland Reel's 2015 and 2017 wins, Mogul downed Hong Kong champion Exultant and Columbus County to also give Ryan Moore his third Vase success.

Yet another son of Galileo, Mogul has long been touted as the next world-beater to emerge from O'Brien's yard and proved his class by overwhelming Exultant, a five-time G1 winner and Hong Kong's reigning Horse of the Year.

While elated at notching his sixth Hong Kong International Races victory, Moore was unsurprised by the quality of Mogul's performance.

“He's a horse that we always expected a lot from,” Moore said.

“He was a good 2-year-old, he won his G2 race (Champions Juvenile Stakes) at Leopardstown. I don't know, maybe just the way the season unfolded, he took a while to really pull himself together.

“Maybe he was just a bit behind Derby Day (when sixth to Serpentine) and we were always on the back foot. He was super impressive when he won in Paris (Grand Prix de Paris) and his Breeders' Cup run (fifth behind Tarnawa in the Breeders' Cup Turf) wasn't without merit.

“Today, the race worked out nicely for him, he's beaten a really solid yardstick in Exultant. He (Exultant) always seems to consistently perform to the same level and never seems to run a bad race around here.

“He's put them away very nicely.

“In reality, I was in front sooner than would have been ideal today but he took me there nicely.

“When he gets in front, he maybe lacks a bit of concentration still but he's a beautiful looking horse.

“He's got a fantastic mind and it doesn't stress him. He'll be a really nice three-year-old.”

Owned by Coolmore, Mogul's laidback mindset lends itself to another international campaign as a 4-year-old.

“He has a great mind, so traveling won't stress him. He loves decent ground,” Moore said.

“I think a few times the ground was made a little bit against him. Maybe even in America, the pace was wrong but the ground might have been loose enough.

“At York, the ground might have been deep enough for him that day.

“These fast, flat tracks suit him. They let him show what class he has.”

Moore first travelled to Hong Kong in 2001 as a teenager, never dreaming he would rise to acclaim as Longines World's Best Jockey among a host of other accolades.

“I've always loved coming to Hong Kong. I came here when I was 18 and they were doing the breeze up sale and I've always loved coming here,” he said.

“I hadn't even rode as an apprentice then and I remember coming here and watching Douglas (Whyte) ride all the winners.

“It was a different time but it was always a great atmosphere and you know how much it means to the punters here. They love their racing and it will be great to have them back here.

“It's fantastic racing and competitive racing. It's been a shame I wasn't able to get over here earlier this year but hopefully we can come again.

“The year for everyone has been a mess but we're very thankful to everyone at the Hong Kong Jockey Club for getting me over. It's been a big effort and I can't really stress enough the time they've put in.

“We're very thankful to get us over here.”

Representing O'Brien, Ballydoyle's John Manton praised Mogul's display.

“He was brilliant there today and he travelled well,” he said. “All week, he's been doing everything we've asked him to do and today worked out just perfectly.

“He picked up well and ran well out to the line. He was very good.

“He took a few runs at the start of the year and came on from it. He ran well in the Breeders' Cup but he was a small bit unlucky as well.

“He came here in very good form and Aidan was confident about him. Everything just went to plan.

“It worked out well, thank God.

“He likes a good pace, just held up and he runs home well off it. He's got a great stride and he's just a very good horse.

“Ryan was very happy with him and said he was just class. A push-button ride.

“Hopefully we'll be back here again next with him and we can do it again.”

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