THE first thing to say about last Sunday’s BMW Hong Kong Derby is that the best horse prevailed. Luger, the Australian-bred with the sprinting pedigree, was forced wide and without cover throughout the majority of the race, but still he summoned more than enough stamina and class to put a strong field to the sword.

Many had queried Luger’s ability to successfully make the jump from a mile to 10 furlongs, never mind doing it the hard way. Credit must go to trainer John Size who never lost faith in his star four-year-old after a heart irregularity back in November and a less-than-ideal preparation of just one run in the interim.

Kudos also to reigning champion jockey Zac Purton. In a rare link-up with his countryman Size after Douglas Whyte opted to ride rival Giant Treasure, the Australian didn’t panic on Luger once he found himself close up according to the pre-race plan, but dangerously deep on the track from his wide draw after the former Irish runner Obliterator unexpectedly forced strong early sections.

Horses in Hong Kong rarely win ‘facing the breeze’ without cover and the odds appeared stacked against Luger, a gelded son of Choisir, sustaining that degree of prominence for the entirety.

Yet, he found another gear the front at the top of the home straight and maintained a margin of a length or so right to the line with French import Got Fly, ridden by Ryan Moore after the English rider arrived with minutes to spare after a delayed flight from Heathrow, getting closest.

AUSTRALIAN IMPORT

Another Australian import Romantic Touch at odds of over 100/1 ran on well for third with the best of the Irish-breds Helene Happy Star staying on well from the rear for fourth. The much-fancied Beauty Only was well held in sixth without any apparent excuse. Hopes for the race favourite Redkirk Warrior ended with two bad checks in the stretch.

“I didn’t want to be caught where I was but I kept telling myself that I was on the best horse in the race and to keep him in his rhythm. He settled beautifully for me and only really woke up when he got a bump at the top of the straight and that was his cue to sprint for the line,” Purton said.

“He was still strong at the finish after the tough run he had and if anything he still feels a bit raw. He still feels like there is more to come.”

The last comment puts the performance into perspective. The winning time was among the fastest Derbies of the race since the turn of the century and Luger’s final 400m section was on a par with the best from the race. The most accomplished horses from this race invariably graduate to the international stage and this horse is poised to make the same jump.

Size, winning his second Derby since Fay Fay in 2012, said in midweek that Luger had come out of the race well and that he had no firm plan in mind as a coming target. He could stay at the same distance and tackle the Audemars Piguet QEII Cup at the end of April or wait for another week and take on Able Friend in the Champions Mile.

“He’ll just have an easy couple of weeks now. This race was the only plan we had. He will go to the higher level, to an international race in the near future but I don’t know which one yet. He always promised to be a group one horse and it’s just great to see that achieved for now,” Size said.