The Romantic Warriors went down in historical past by profitable the Longines Hong Kong Cup for the third time in Shatin.
The six-year-old, hailed as “the right horse” by jockey James McDonald forward of the 10-furlong Group One race, lived as much as expectations with a straightforward win over Japanese star Liberty Island.
Aidan O’Brien’s Wingspan set the early tempo, with McDonald operating the Romantic Warrior in fourth, simply off the mark in first gear monitor to make sure clean passage all through the race.
After receiving the sign half a furlong from house, Romance Warrior accelerated away from the chasing Liberty Island, giving Macdonald simply sufficient time to show round and greet the group earlier than the end line.
McDonald stated: “I am very pleased with this horse. Danny and his staff have put in a implausible effort.
“Overlook the remaining, he is the very best.
“He is been flying. Anybody might have ridden him, he was simple, however I am fortunate. He is the very best horse to have in your life.”
Andrew Balding’s outdoors Foxes charged again however charged within the ultimate seconds to complete fourth and win greater than £240,000, whereas Spirit Dancer tried Problem, however dropped to ninth place on the end line.
O’Brien’s first string Content material got here in seventh, whereas Wingspan dropped to tenth after her early efforts.
Jiaying’s rise to Hong Kong’s glory
Jiaying Seng received the Longines Hong Kong Dash in Shatin and moved into Group 1.
The four-year-old is broadly anticipated to carry out nicely within the six-furlong heats, having received his previous seven begins and breaking a long-standing report in latest begins.
On this advance he was gradual to interrupt for Zac Purton and the rider needed to push him early to catch chief California Spangle.
When Panton gave the sign, Jiaying rose to the entrance, however as a substitute of sprinting, he needed to battle late prices from Helios Categorical and Sartonorev to safe victory.
Ralph Beckett’s British marauder Starlust failed so as to add to his success within the Breeders’ Cup Turf Dash, trailing the leaders within the house straight.
Purton stated of the David Hayes-trained winner: “The race did not go nicely and simply earlier than we set off one thing got here in the direction of the gate and it took him away from his focus and he turned his head so he was on his toes. A bit gradual.
“Victor, the winner, was on my neck all the way in which, he is by no means actually relaxed like this, he was working exhausting all the way in which.
“The win was higher than it seemed and he jumped over some stuff within the straight too which took his thoughts off it however he is a particular horse.
“He wasn’t at his finest at this time, he is higher than that however nonetheless bought the job executed.”
Voyage Bubble provides one other Group 1 winner within the Longines Hong Kong Mile.
The six-year-old horse, educated by Ricky Yiu and ridden by James McDonald, carried out nicely all through and took the lead with two furlongs remaining.
Soul Rush did his finest to drag him again within the ultimate stretch, however after ending second in final 12 months’s mile, Voyage Bubble wasn’t the man to beat this time round.
French runner Lazette was the highest performer amongst European raiders, with Harry Eustace’s Dachlan and James Ferguson-trained Ramadan within the subject.
