Cover image courtesy of the HKJC
Australian-bred sprinter Beat The Clock (Hinchinbrook) has delivered a stunning upset and given Joao Moreira a rapid-fire Group 1 double after charging late to claim the Longines Hong Kong Sprint at Sha Tin.
Boom 3-year-old Aethero (Sebring) was expected to dominate the race and was backed into $1.30 favourite and all looked to be going to plan when Zac Purton took him to the front and he gave a good kick at the top of the straight.
But the high-intensity race took its toll late on and the backmarkers swooped. Moreira had Beat The Clock, who was third in this race last year, in the right spot to pounce and he surged late to score, giving the Brazilian born jockey his second Group 1 win in as many races after he scored on Glory Vase (Jpn) (Deep impact {Jpn}) in the Longines Hong Kong Vase.
Hot King Prawn (Denman), who had trailed Aethero throughout the run, got through to run second, to give trainer John Size a quinella, while Aethero completed an Australian-bred trifecta just ahead of last year's winner Mr Stunning (Exceed And Excel) in a time of 1:08.12s.
The victory was a fitting reward for Beat The Clock, who has never missed a place in his 23 starts, winning nine of them, including three at the top level.
Bred by Jilly Henderson, the son of the ill-fated Hinchinbrook was initially a $70,000 Inglis Melbourne Premier Sale purchase in 2015 by Prima Park from the draft of Yarraman Park, before being offered at the New Zealand Bloodstock Ready To Run Sale of 2YOs, where Bill Mitchell picked him up for NZ$200,000. He has now won over HK$46 million (AU$8.58 million).
Beat The Clock as a yearling
Beat The Clock is one of two winners out of stakes-placed Flion Fenena (Lion Hunter), who also has a yearling filly by Your Song who is catalogued in the January Magic Millions Sale and recently foaled a Smart Missile filly.
It represents a second win in the race for both Size and Moreira, who praised Beat The Clock post race.
"There is no way you could be any happier. What a pleasure to be on two very nice horse, especially this guy, who I have had so much to do with," Moreira said.
"He is so consistent and shows his best always, to be his rider is just unforgettable."
"He is so consistent and shows his best always, to be his rider is just unforgettable." - Joao Moreira
Vase glory for Glory Vase
Earlier, a brilliant ride from Moreira and a powerful finish from Glory Vase led a Japanese domination of the Longines Hong Kong Vase.
The short-priced favourite Exultant (Ire) (Teofilo {GB}) led up the field and looked a top chance to go back-to-back after being well-rated by Zac Purton on the speed.
But Moreira had given Glory Vase the perfect ride midfield and when he pushed into the clear, he quickly raced up to Exultant and put paid to him surging clear to win by 3.5l in a time of 2:24.77s, which was just outside the track record.
Lucky Lilac (Jpn) (Orfevre {Jpn}) closed well late to claim second, while Exultant held on for third, to prevent a Japanese sweep of the placings, with Dierdre (Jpn) (Harbinger {Jpn}) rocketing him into fourth, just half a length back.
G1 Epsom Derby winner Anthony Van Dyck (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) raced outside the pace throughout, but dropped out in the straight to finish 12th, one spot behind Prince of Arran (GB) (Shirocco {Ger}), who failed to come on after racing around fifth in the run.
It was an emotional success for Moreira, who praised the quality of the Japanese stayers.
Joao Moreira
"They are just so good. Obviously it’s a pleasure to ride such a nice little horse. When I say little, he might be little in size but he has got such a big engine and such a big heart," he said.
"He was always comfortable and I was happy with the position he got. I got a little bit squeezed with four furlongs to go, but he showed he has got the braveness and went on to win impressively.
"I'd love to dedicate this win to my family. My two little kids, my wife and my Mum, who are watching the race at the moment. The emotion is getting to me a bit, but that's what it's about, winning these big races."
"The emotion is getting to me a bit, but that's what it's about, winning these big races." - Joao Moreira
Moreira would finish the day with five winners, while he was second aboard Waikuku (Harbour Watch {Ire}) in the G1 Hong Kong Mile.
Glory Vase is trained by Tomohito Ozeki and his victory is great consolation for his owners Silk Racing, who had expected to race their star mare Almond Eye (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) at the meeting, only for her to be withdrawn in the lead-up.
His previous biggest win had come in the G2 Nikkei Shinshun Hai at Kyoto last January.
He records the 294th stakes win for his sire Deep Impact (Jpn) and 65th Group 1 win and becomes the second of the legendary stallion's sons to win on international day, joining A Shin Hakari (Jpn), who won the Hong Kong Cup in 2015.
