THERE was no luck for Irish breeders Kevin Molloy and vendor Paddy Kelly in the Hong Kong Derby last Sunday as Eastern Express could only finish ninth behind the winner Werther.

Hugh Bowman claimed his first international Group 1 with a narrow win aboard the New Zealand-bred Werther, the favourite, for trainer John Moore who also trained the second, as Victory Magic – ridden by fellow Australian Zac Purton – was just beaten, the official winning margin was a head.

In third place was last year’s Irish Derby third place finisher Giovani Canaletto. The Moore-trained pair drew almost three lengths ahead of the rest.

“It gives me great pleasure that it’s here in Hong Kong – it’s the highlight of my career,” said Bowman, after he shook off Victory Magic in the final stages.

“I didn’t even stoke him up from the top of the straight, I just let him go through his gears and I was surprised, considering the way he let down, that the second horse was even able to come with me.”

“It was a great battle - I think Werther just wanted it that little bit more,” said Purton.

“It looked quite an even Derby on paper but my two have come away like that and really put them away,” said Moore, who also saddled Helene Paragon for fifth. “The winner goes to the QE II Cup now, Helene Paragon drops back to the Champions Mile and we’ll see if Victory Magic can go back to the handicaps and win one.”

Moreira said that Giovanni Canaletto was better over 12 furlongs while Richard Gibson was pleased by the fourth placing of Consort (Chad Schofield), a horse transferred to him from Moore in mid-preparation in early February.

“He’s run a great race and I am sure he can improve on that - there’s something to work with for the future,” Gibson said.

RESULT

The result made for a good weekend for the sire Tavistock, after Tarzino won the Group 1 Rosehill Guineas on Saturday.

Werther, ridden behind the leaders by Bowman, reversed the form with Sun Jewellery, who had beaten him in each of the Group 1 Hong Kong Classic Mile and Hong Kong Classic Cup leading into the Derby.

Sun Jewellery could manage a seventh-place finish with Ryan Moore aboard, five and a quarter lengths behind Werther. The Irish-bred Consort, formerly trained by Sir Michael Stoute finished fourth. It was the third consecutive win by an Australian rider – after Tommy Berry (Designs On Rome, 2014) and Purton (Luger, 2015) and a fifth Derby win for John Moore.

For Bowman, it was his 51st career Group 1 victory, having brought up the half-century milestone earlier in the weekend when Winx claimed the George Ryder Stakes.

Giovanni Canaletto, ridden by Joao Moreira, was last at the top of the straight, but produced a huge finish to claim third – three lengths off the winner – for two-time Derby winning trainer Tony Cruz.

Hong Kong Sale

An Australian-bred gelding by Starcraft out of an Anabaa mare topped the Hong Kong International Sale last weekend when selling for 8,500,000 Hong Kong dollars (€982,000). The second top lot was a Manhattan Rain colt who was sold for 7,000,000 (€809,249).

A son of Choisir sold for 6,800,000 while two geldings made 6,000,000 dollars, by Shamardal and O’Reilly.