A RIDE of skill by Joao Moreira and an expert training performance by Caspar Fownes saw Sky Darci overcome stamina doubts and deliver a dramatic win in the BMW Hong Kong Derby, just holding off the challenge of last year’s Irish-trained Royal Ascot winner Russian Emperor in a dash to the line at Sha Tin last Sunday.

Only a head separated Sky Darci and a charging Russian Emperor (by Galileo) at the line, with Panfield, a triple Group 1 winner in Chile, back in third, in an international finish.

The winner, a Darci Brahma gelding, was bred in New Zealand and joined the Fownes stable as an unraced gelding in 2019.

“It was the longest (last 200 metres I’ve ever seen in a race, that’s for sure,” Fownes said. “I’m glad he stuck his neck out and got the winning result.

“All in all, it’s a magic day – massive satisfaction. This horse with the owners (the Kwan family), it’s magic, they’ve been incredible people to train for.

“They bought this horse and gave me the opportunity to train him – he’s come a long way in a short period of time – all credit goes to them. Also, I’m very happy with Joao. You’re never too confident in these types of races. I said to Joao ‘I can’t get a horse any better than this. Obviously, the staying test is going to be a little bit of query for us but we’ve got the soft gate and he’s in perfect condition.”

Sky Darci had previously finished sixth and seventh, respectively, in the Hong Kong Classic Mile and the Hong Kong Classic Cup.

Moreira celebrated his second Derby success after he won with the ill-fated Rapper Dragon in 2017.

“It was such a smooth run – he jumped out well and immediately I just grabbed hold of him and tried to put him to sleep,” Moreira said.

“Once those two horses (Healthy Happy and Silver Express) ran away in front, it was such a good section for us and at, the 800 metre mark when Russian Emperor was moved out and left the fence for me to start improving, it actually forced me to go a little bit too early.

“I knew they were coming, they were good horses as well. He’s not a specialist 2,000 metre horse, in my opinion, but he’s got heart and even if they were coming, he was giving his best.

“This is the first classic that I’ve had for him (Fownes). I haven’t had too many rides in the big races for him and he’s a tough trainer, he’s won the championship a number of times, he’s won the Derby before and this is such a great training achievement.

Sky Darci was the high point of a Moreira treble after the ‘Magic Man’scored on Courier Wonder and Fantastic Way.

BRITISH rider Harry Bentley has been given a short-term licence to ride in Hong Kong for the next few months.

Bentley was granted a licence by the Jockey Club on Monday. The jockey had his best days in Britain when he registerd two Group 1 wins on the Henry Candy-trained Limato.

The 28-year-old will fly to Hong Kong on Friday to begin his mandatory 21-day hotel quarantine before being allowed to ride on April 16th.