GROUP 1 HONG KONG

CUP (10F)

THERE were no European winners at Sha Tin last Sunday but the International meeting was undoubtedly a success. A record 95,357 people attended and the official betting aggregate for the 10-race card reached HK$1.5 billion (€182 million).

“It’s the highest turnover ever for this day, and an increase of 4.7% on last year,” reported the Hong Kong Jockey Club’s chief executive Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges. “But the attendance was even more pleasing, with a record for the day of more than 100,000 people, combining Sha Tin and Happy Valley. The atmosphere on course was outstanding.”

The meeting’s four international races attracted a total of 53 runners including 26 from overseas, and a total of 23 Group 1 winners.

Japan’s champion trainer Noriyuki Hori became the first overseas handler to notch a double at the meeting in one day thanks to Satono Crown (Vase) and the brilliant Maurice (Cup). Maurice also became the first horse to win the Mile and then follow-up in the Cup since the races took on Group 1 status.

Having his final start before retiring to stud, Maurice was providing jockey Ryan Moore with another big-race win, more than compensating for the rider’s earlier narrow defeat on Highland Reel in the Vase.

In the Cup Moore had to show plenty of patience after his mount was slow to break and settled towards the rear of the field as A Shin Hikari blazed a trail under Yutaka Take. A Shin Hikari quickly built up a clear lead but began to falter at the top of the straight, with Moore tracking a perfect passage up the rail before switching his mount to challenge.

Maurice’s response was instant, with the five-year-old quickly reeling in A Shin Hikari before surging forward for a breathtaking three-length victory over Secret Weapon.

“Fortunately there was good pace in the race and halfway down the back I thought it was setting up nicely for him and it was just a matter of finding the room,” said Moore, who was securing a second Cup following Snow Fairy’s success in 2010 and his 20th Group 1 score for 2016.

“As soon as he got room and I put him into gear, he just let down exceptionally well. He got to the leader early and then he was just easing up really. He has improved every time I’ve ridden him.”

As well as announcing the abundant talent of his trainer, Hori, to the wider world, Maurice enjoyed an international coming-of-age at this meeting 12 months ago. He may well be crowned the world’s best racehorse when the official ratings are published next month.

Asked what it felt like to be atop Maurice, Moore said simply: “It’s a lot of fun. Hori said to me on the way out, ‘Are you OK?’ and I told him ‘I’m always OK when I’m riding Maurice.’ He’s a brilliant horse. He is very good at a mile but he is possibly better at 10 [furlongs]. He has improved, he is a big strong horse and he has got better with racing. He has been a pleasure to ride.”

Maurice is a son of Screen Wonder, a grandson of the Roberto horse Silver Hawk.

Secret Weapon gave home fans plenty to cheer with a career best three lengths back in second, a performance which can be upgraded given the fact he was checked in trying to get out from behind Lovely Day approaching the 200-metre mark.

Jockey Zac Purton said: “He has run a great race, he has come of age. He is Hong Kong’s best mile and a quarter horse now.”

Japanese-trained horses fought out a fierce battle for third with Staphanos getting the better of Lovely Day by a nose.

Christophe Soumillon only sat on Staphanos for the first time on Saturday morning and was delighted with the way that the Hideaki Fujiwara-trained five-year-old responded. “It was a very good run,” said Soumillon. “At one stage I thought I would be fifth but he produced a great turn of foot to be third.”

The build-up to the race had been dominated by the prospective showdown between Maurice and A Shin Hikari and even halfway up the straight it still looked possible that Yutaka Take might have just enough horse to repeat last year’s solo effort, having been six lengths clear turning out of the back straight.

But as Maurice and his pursuers drew upsides, A Shin Hikari’s stride shortened and he faded late to beat only two home. “He showed his race but it was a bit disappointing,” said Take of what is likely to be A Shin Hikari’s swansong.