Hong Kong’s Reunification Raceday had it all with a treble to Vincent Ho and doubles to Zac Purton and Hugh Bowman. A star continues to rise in the sprinting ranks and the Derby form stood up in the day’s feature event, the Reunification Cup (2000m).
Race 1 – Racing Goes On 1400m Handicap, HK $810,000
Class 5 – Turf - Distance 1400m - Track Good
Time: 1:22.64 Standard Time: 1:22.30 Course/Class record: 1:21.53 Exponents
It didn't take Hugh Bowman long to find form after returning from suspension, scoring in the first aboard MAXIMIZE HEART (Holy Roman Emperor – Nictate). He got away on terms from the inside barrier but didn't have the pace to run with the leaders early on, settling near the tail of the field. The pace was solid up front as they turned off the back and Bowman was able to creep along the inside rail, pinching runs heading into the home straight, but he was still spotting the leader 4 lengths on straightening. He sprinted quickly at the top of the straight and remained close to the inside going under his rivals and ranged up to take the lead with 100m to run. He took the lead and pulled away over the concluding stages, winning comfortably by 1-1/4 lengths. MIRACLES led the field for home and stuck on gamely to finish second after a charge for the front in the early stages. He kicked well between the 400m and the 200m opening up a break and a win looks to be coming the way of Miracles very soon. FORTUNE MASTER stuck on well from midfield to finish third.
Race 2 – World-Class Leadership 1200m Handicap, HK $1,080,000
Class 4 – Turf – Distance 1200m - Track Good
Time: 1:09.67 Standard Time: 1:09.30 Course/Class record: 1:08.40 Master Eight
Brenton Avdulla continued to build into his tenure in Hong Kong, scoring his third win aboard CALIFORNIA VANES (Hinchinbrook – Miss Vandal). After beginning smartly from barrier 11, Avdulla rolled forward on the gelding to take up the running. He was running freely out In front, leading by 1-3/4 lengths turning off the back and maintaining that advantage around the home turn as the field split in two heading for home. Avdulla hadn't moved on the gelding with 300m remaining as he continued to hold a clear advantage before finally getting stuck into the gelding with 250m left to run. He was getting tired
close to home but it was a perfect ride by Avdulla that saw him lead all of the way to win race 2. STRATHPEFFER was making some nice ground late in the race as the leader began to tire and was running on strongly through the line for second, with SWEET DIAMOND back in third.
Race 3 – The Guangdong-Hong Kong Cup (Handicap), HK $1,080,000
Class 4 – Turf – Distance 1200m - Track Good
Time: 1:09.42 Standard Time: 1:09.30 Course/Class record: 1:08.40 Master Eight
Hugh Bowman bought up an early double, adopting much the same tactics as his first win with LET'S DO IT (Dane Shadow – Dorothy Dinosaur). After being away fairly from barrier 1, Bowman settled in the second half of the field. Approaching the 800m point, Bowman was able to improve into a midfield position and get away from the inside rail, putting him in a nice position with a genuine pace being set up front. As his rivals fanned in front of him, the Australia hoop stuck closer to the inside and was building into the race nicely passing the 300m point. He never barely went around a horse in the run to the line, scraping paint along the inside to take the lead 100m from home and scoring by 1-1/2 lengths. BABY CRYSTAL looked the winner a furlong from the finish, but he was unable to match it with the winner who was just too good. NOBLE ONE absolutely stormed home in the straight, coming from near last to be edged out for second in a photo finish. He's still a maiden after 14 starts now, but that was some effort from the rear.
Race 4 – The Hong Kong Reunification Cup (Handicap), HK $2,900,000
Class 2 – Turf - Distance 2000m - Track Good
Time: 2:01.56 Standard Time: 2:01.75 Course/Class record: 1:59.53 Glorious Forever
It was only a matter of time before Zac Purton hit the board, and it came in the feature event of the afternoon aboard SWORD POINT (American Pharoah – Jazz Song) for Frankie Lor. He jumped well from a favourable barrier and landed in behind the speed which was strong through the first half of the race. The field was strung out down the back straight with Purton 6-1/4 lengths off at the 1200m point. The pace slowed dramatically approaching the 800m point and the field bunched around the home turn with Purton finding himself in a bit of a pocket turning for home. He had plenty of horse underneath him, he just needed a way clear. The gap opened relatively early on in the straight and Purton shot straight through it to take control with a furlong to run. The four-year-old pulled away over the concluding stages to win comfortably in the end, with the final
margin 1-1/4 lengths. MEANINGFUL STAR was positioned in front of Sword Point in the run and stuck on gamely from his position. He looked to be passed by BUTTERFIELD in the home straight but fought back close to the line to sneak into second position. BUTTERFIELD was one of the horses to move around the leaders as the pace slowed turning off the back. He was right there to win if good enough, but maybe just got a touch tired in the end and settled for third.
Race 5 – Uncompromising Integrity 1000m Handicap, HK $1,080,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1000m - Track Good
Time: 56.18 Standard Time: 56.40 Course/Class record: 54.94 United We Stand
The first event down the straight saw SPARKLING KNIGHT (Holy Roman Emperor – Connote) lead all of the way for Antoine Hamelin. He was away quickly from his favourable barrier and took up the running along the favourable outside rail. He wasn't hanging about in front and had some of his rivals already off the bit approaching the 400m point. He stuck on well when Hamelin asked for an effort to break away from his rivals, leading by a couple of lengths with 100m to run. It was all over from that point onwards as the gelding scored by 1-3/4 lengths in very comfortable fashion. It was a Dennis Yip quinella with FLYING DRAGON running into second position, while MIDAS TOUCH ran third after being snagged back to second-last after the start by Hugh Bowman.
Race 6 – Serving The Community 1600m Handicap, HK $1,080,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1600m - Track Good
Time: 1:34.81 Standard Time: 1:35.10 Course/Class record: 1:33.78 Morethanlucky
Vincent Ho bought up his first winner of the day with the Pierre Ng-trained MASTER OF FOTRUNE (Fastnet Rock – Stellar Glow). He got away on terms from his draw and was left racing three-wide in a midfield position on settling down but did have cover in the three-wide trail. Ho was drifting back in as the approached the 800m point and was now in the second half of the field as they passed the 600m point. It was from that point the local hoop began working into the race, coming out to be the widest runner on straightening. He just kept running down the centre of the track, coming from a mile back to take the lead with 100m to run and hold on for victory by a short head on the line. He edged out PROSECCO who enjoyed a lovely run in behind the leaders for Harry Bentley. The Englishman got out and into the clear early in the straight and took the lead momentarily with 150m to run. He tried hard to stick his nose back in front, but was unable to peg back
the margin. PRESIDENT'S CHOICE flashed home for third in a very eye-catching run from the rear of the field.
Race 7 – Continuous Development 1400m Handicap, HK $1,080,000
Class 4 – Turf - Distance 1400m - Track Good
Time: 1:22.03 Standard Time: 1:22.05 Course/Class record: 1:20.80 Perfect Pair
Zac Purton bought up a double and edged closer to Joao Moreira's record of wins in a season aboard the Ricky Yiu-conditioned GREEN N WHITE (Smart Missile – Twin Star Rocket). He jumped well from barrier 10 but was stranded a touch deep early in the race, but Purton was able to slot into a midfield position with cover. He travelled beautifully in the run and looked ominous at the top of the stretch as Purton got into the clear without any troubles. He was just cruising up to his rivals early in the straight and he put his rivals away as soon as Purton pressed the button. He shot to the front with 200m left to run and the race was all over, as the three-year-old won comfortably by 1-1/4 lengths. DIVINE ERA was a nice run over the closing stages. He was passed early in the straight but showed plenty of strength to knuckle down over the concluding stages and run into second place. PUBLICIST held on for third in a photo finish after racing up on the speed throughout.
Race 8 – Riding High Together 1000m Handicap, HK $1,725,000
Class 3 – Turf – Distance 1000m - Track Good
Time: 56.56 Standard Time: 56.20 Course/Class record: 54.89 Voyage Warrior
It was another impressive performance from DREAM WINNER (Exosphere – Longbeach Lucy) as he continued his unbeaten run in Hong Kong. He was only fairly away from barrier 7 for Vincent Ho but mustered well to sit just off the leaders as they worked through the opening stages. He kept the leaders within striking distance through the middle stages and he just ambled right past the leading pair when Ho gave him a squeeze. He never gave his rivals a sniff, bolting in by 2 lengths in an arrogant win. CHEVAL VALIANT was brave from the front, sticking on gamely to run second while METRO WARRIOR finished in third, but all the talk will be about Dream Winner and his bright future.
Race 9 – Sportsmanship 1200m Handicap, HK $1,725,000
Class 3 – Turf - Distance 1200m - Track Good
Time: 1:09.26 Standard Time: 1:09.05 Course/Class record: 1:08.11 Victor The Winner
It was an Australian day out with Luke Currie joining the party with BUNDLE OF CHARM (All Too Hard – Dubleanny) scoring for John Size. He jumped well off the inside barrier and held his position along the inside to be in second position, taking a sit off the leader. Currie went to a clear second around the turn and came off heels to make his challenge at the top of the straight. He blew right by the leader with 250m to run and was holding his rivals at bay with 100m to run. There was a rival flashing late, but he had enough in the tank to hold on for victory. That horse flashing was GLOBAL HARMONY who was last in the run and a whopping 9-1/4 lengths off the leader at the top of the straight. He kicked into overdrive in the straight an almost got up for an unlikely victory. INVINCIBLE SAGE was right there was well finishing third.
Race 10 – Better Future 1400m Handicap, HK $1,725,000
Class 3 – Turf - Distance 1400m - Track Good
Time: 1:21.88 Standard Time: 1:21.75 Course/Class record: 1:20.62 Preciousship
The final event on the card rounded out a huge day for Vincent Ho as he bought up a winning treble aboard SUPERB BOY (Nicconi – Jolie Joy). He jumped quickly from his wide stall and rolled forward, getting across to sit outside the leader on settling down. They weren't going too hard in front and the leaders slowed the tempo around the turn with the field bunching up as they swung into the straight for the final time. The leaders skipped away from the rest of the field early in the straight and Superb Boy shot to the lead once Ho asked for an effort. He took control with a furlong to run and it was all over from that point. He was just too strong in the run to the line, scoring by 1-1/2 lengths on the line. WINNER METHOD stuck on boldly from the front after leading the field into the straight, with the first two in running first and second across the line. FLAMINGO TRILLION settled around the speed and closed off well to finish in third, just missing second in a photo finish, but all honours go to the winner Superb Boy.
