AIDAN O'Brien-trained globetrotter Highland Reel made a valiant attempt to make all the running in the Group 1 Longines Hong Kong Vase at Sha Tin this morning but was caught close to the finish by the Japanese-trained Satono Crown.

A Group 2 winner trained by Noriyuki Hori, the four-year-old is a son of the late Derrinstown Stud stallion Marju and he is out of Jioconda, who was a pattern-placed, stakes-winning juvenile for the Eddie Lynam stable in 2005.

Third in last year's Group 1 Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby), Satono Crown is a full-brother to the Group 1 Cheveley Park Stakes winner Lightening Pearl, who was trained by Ger Lyons.

Satono Crown was bred in Japan by Northern Racing.