Hong Kong Runners Dominate HK International Races

Time Warp and Zac Purton capped a stunning day for the local team in the Longines Hong Kong International Races Dec. 10 at Sha Tin, leading all the way to an easy victory in the Longines Hong Kong Cup (G1).

The victory gave Hong Kong locals a sweep of the final three group 1 races of the day after Ireland's Highland Reel kicked off the action with a win in the Longines Hong Kong Vase (G1).

The dominance of Hong Kong horses was so complete that foreign contingents captured only a few minor awards on a warm, sunny day in Hong Kong's New Territories.

Time Warp, a 4-year-old, British-bred gelding by Archipenko, entered the Cup after a second-place finish to Hong Kong Horse of the Year Werther (NZ) in the BOCHK Jockey Club Cup (G2) Nov. 19. In that heat, Werther caught Time Warp in the late going.

Werther had no such luck on the big day, coming with a late rush, but falling 2 1/4 lengths short of the winner. Japanese entrants Neorealism (JPN), Stapahanos (JPN), and Smart Layer (JPN) were third, fourth and fifth, respectively, while British, Irish, and French runners filled the final four spots in the 12-horse order of finish. The 2,000-meter (about 1 1/4-mile) Cup, which was worth HK$25 million (US$3.2 million), was run in a final time of 2:01.63 over the good turf.

Time Warp, under the tutelage of experienced Hong Kong trainer Tony Cruz, worked his way quickly through the ranks in Hong Kong, running on turf and all-weather courses at both Sha Tin and the in-town Happy Valley racecourse.

Cruz said the gelding didn't get a clear run when he finished second in the Jockey Club Cup and predicted he has more to come.

"I would love to take him overseas," Cruz said. "But I haven't worked out that program yet."

Mr Stunning (AUS), with Nash Rawiller at the controls, ran like the favorite he was in the Longines Hong Kong Sprint (G1). Always prominent through the 1,200 meters, the 5-year-old Exceed And Excel (AUS) gelding hit the front inside the 300-meter mark and gamely held off D B Pin (NZ) to win by a neck in a final time of 1:08.40.

Blizzard (AUS), Lucky Bubbles (AUS), and Amazing Kids (NZ) finished third through fifth, giving Hong Kong-based horses a sweep of the top five spots. The best finish by an invader was Japan's mare Let's Go Donki (JPN), who finished sixth. The race was worth HK$18.5 million (US$2.4 million).

The disappointment of the race was American runner Stormy Liberal, who beat only two rivals. The Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (G1T) winner is trained by Peter Miller for Rockingham Ranch, both hard hit by the tragic fire at San Luis Rey Downs Training Center in Bonsall, Calif. The Stromy Atlantic gelding broke a step slowly, raced wide, and was never in the mix.

"He was a little flat and might have been feeling the effects of the trip," said rider Silvestre de Sousa.

Mr Stunning, knocking on the door as a star of the future in Hong Kong, won his last two starts, including the local prelude to the Sprint. Trained by John Size, the 5-year-old gelding progressed through the handicap ranks at Happy Valley early in 2016 and moved up the class ladder to finish second in the Chairman's Sprint Prize (G1) May 7, at the end of last season.

"He's had a lovely buildup into the race," Size said. "He drew a good gate (post 4) and Nash had him in a perfect position. It was hard to see him getting beat from there."

He is not, however, likely to travel, Size said. "I don't think he's got the constitution for that."

Beauty Generation (NZ) led from the first jumps in the Longines Hong Kong Mile (G1) and led yet another parade of local runners across the wire. The 5-year-old New Zealand-bred, trained by John Moore, finished one length in front of Western Express (AUS) after a moderate early pace led to a final time of 1:33.72.

Helene Paragon (FR) and favored Seasons Bloom (AUS) were third and fourth. The Aidan O'Brien-trained Lancaster Bomber was off a step slow from post 11—an insurmountable hurdle in this race—and finished fifth. O'Brien's other starter, Roly Poly, had the outside 14 post and beat none of her rivals.

Beauty Generation finished third in the local prep race for the Mile, trailing Seasons Bloom in that heat.

"I decided to go early because my horse is one-paced. And he never stopped," said Leung, who returned to cheers as a popular local rider and product of the Hong Kong Jockey Academy. It was his first win in the Hong Kong International Races from just his second ride.