Japan's Danon Smash, Normcore Triumphant in Hong Kong

Japanese horses, always a threat in the Longines Hong Kong International Races, scored twice in the 2020 renewal Dec. 13 at Sha Tin Racecourse, including an upset 1-2 finish in the day's feature.

Normcore and last year's victor, Win Bright, took the top two placings in the Longines Hong Kong Cup (G1), relegating Irish invader Magical to third. Danon Smash led an all-longshot finish in the Longines Hong Kong Sprint (G1) as highly touted Classique Legend was never a factor and finished 11th.

Normcore, a 5-year-old Harbinger mare, found an extra gear in the final 200 meters of the 2,000-meter (about 1 1/4-mile) Cup and defeated Win Bright by three-quarters of a length. Magical, seeking her eighth group 1 victory, also ran well late but finished a short head behind Win Bright in what might have been the final start of her career for the Coolmore owners.

"She had to fight for it," jockey Zac Purton said of Normcore. "Win Bright gave a really sharp kick, and his love for Sha Tin was starting to show through. But she was determined, and, inch by inch, she just kept putting herself in the frame."

Normcore's only previous top-level win came in the Victoria Mile (G1) at Tokyo Racecourse in May 2019. She finished fourth in the 2019 Longines Hong Kong Mile (G1). Purton inherited the ride when Christophe Soumillon did not meet COVID-19 requirements and was stood down from all mounts on HKIR day.

Magical, a 5-year-old daughter of Galileo, suffered a third consecutive tough defeat. She finished second, beaten one length by Tarnawa, in the Longines Breeders' Cup Turf (G1T) at Keeneland and before that was third in the QIPCO Champion Stakes (G1), run on soft ground at Ascot.

Jockey Ryan Moore said Magical was a victim of circumstance.

"There was a lack of pace, so therefore I couldn't go where I wanted to go," Moore said. "She ran well."

It was generally thought the Cup would be Magical's path to retirement. But trainer Aidan O'Brien reportedly said after the race he hopes to keep Magical in training in 2021, while noting the decision will be made by the owners, the Coolmore "lads."

The Longines Hong Kong Sprint, a 1,200-meter (about six-furlong) affair, always promised to be a competitive race—especially in the event that Classique Legend, the winner of the prestigious The Tab Everest in his previous start in October, couldn't fire in his first Hong Kong race.

That's exactly what happened. Classique Legend was nowhere to be found in the running and beat only three of his 13 rivals.

Danon Smash, eighth in the 2019 Sprint, got the job done this time, accelerating quickly from well back through the final 300 meters to win by a half-length over the unheralded Jolly Banner. Equally overlooked Rattan finished third.

Danon Smash is a 5-year-old by Lord Kanaloa, who landed the Hong Kong Sprint for Japan in 2012 and 2013. Danon Smash finished third and second, respectively, in the past two runnings of the Sprinters Stakes (G1) at Nakayama Racecourse.

"We got lucky," said winning rider Moore, who started Danon Smash from the unfavorable gate 14. "He stepped very well, and we managed to slot into a lovely spot. I was always happy, and when the pace steadied around the bend, I was able to just move out and keep moving forward, and he got there in plenty of time.

"I think when he got the draw, we were all possibly a bit worried and we needed to see what happens, and thankfully everything worked his way."

Moore, who won the Longines Hong Kong Vase (G1) one race earlier aboard Mogul, advanced his win total in the series to seven—the most of any foreign competitor.