Longines Hong Kong Cup (Group 1)

THE Japanese mare Loves Only You sealed her brilliant career with a terrific success in the HK$30 million Hong Kong Cup over 10 furlongs last Sunday.

Yoshito Yahagi’s globetrotter had raced from Dubai in March, back to Hong Kong, back to Japan, on to the USA in November and then back to Sha Tin again for this final run, picking up three wins at the highest level including her historic one when becoming the first horse from Japan to win at the Breeders’ Cup.

The Deep Impact mare’s rider Yuga Kawada, was thrilled to record his first HKIR success.

“She jumped well. The pace was a bit slow but then she relaxed and I was able to find a good position. She’s given me two big presents and is the best female horse I’ve ever ridden. I hope she will be a good mother,” he said.

Sent off favourite, Loves Only You was away well and was soon travelling keenly just behind a steady early pace set by Irish challenger Mac Swiney, Ka Ying Star and the wider Bolshoi Ballet.

Russian Emperor made a bold move to lead as a packing field jostled for position early in the home straight and Loves Only You was in a pocket on the inner at a crucial point.

Storming run

Japan’s Hishi Iguazu produced a storming run from the rear on the outside soon after under Joao Moreira to draw level briefly well inside the final furlong.

However, Kawada got Loves Only You into full cry and she refused to yield, again fighting between horses under pressure to lead close home and beat her fellow Japanese raider by a short head.

Russian Emperor ran the race of his life for Douglas Whyte and Blake Shinn to finish a length back in third,

British raider Dubai Honour never looked like winning but stayed on well for fourth once in the clear for William Haggas and Tom Marquand.

Winning trainer Yoshito Yahagi was completing an incredible end to 2021 which has also produced a Breeders’ Cup Distaff success for Marche Lorraine and a Japan Cup success for his superstar colt Contrail.

He was represented by Yusaku Oka who said: “I’m so glad to win this race for our trainer, who is watching on in Japan. She won the Breeders’ Cup very well and in the spring she came over here and had a good result, so we were always confident she would run well.”

Japan has now won five of the last seven Hong Kong Cups, the prior wins coming with A Shin Hikari, Maurice, Win Bright and Normcore.