Displaying
class and grit in equal measure to triumph in the HK$18m Cathay Pacific
Hong Kong Cup, Vengeance Of Rain became the first Hong Kong-trained
horse to win the World Racing Championship before an enthralled Sha
Tin on Sunday, 11 December 2005.
The odds-on favourite Vengeance Of Rain, trained
by David Ferraris and ridden by Anthony Delpech, got first run off a
steady tempo and had enough in reserve to fend off the late thrust of
Pride by a neck and Maraahel a length and a half further back in third.
Following his victory in the Audemars Piguet QEII
Cup last April, Vengeance Of Rain's owner Raymond Gianco Chow Hon-man
collected the trophy for the World Racing Championship to join a list
of illustrious champions.
The win also cemented David Ferraris' reputation
as one of the very best big race trainers in the business. Last year
he also landed the Mercedes-Benz Hong Kong Derby and the Hong Kong Champions
& Chater Cup and would have been Hong Kong's Horse of the Year were
it not for the dizzying feats of Silent Witness.
"He is the best horse I've ever ridden and I
don't think I'll ever ride one like him again. Horses like him come
round just once in a blue moon," jockey Anthony Delpech gushed
post race.
"We found a nice position one off the fence
and he was cantering at the final turn and he really fought hard. He
has it all: class and courage."
Ferraris said Vengeance Of Rain was likely to stay
in Hong Kong for the remainder of the season and cherry-pick the best
races at 2000m and above.
"The owners have asked me not to race him in
Dubai so we will target the Hong Kong Gold Cup, the Audemars Piguet
QEII Cup and the Champions & Chater Cup. I think there is still
more improvement in him, too. "
That spells bad news for his Hong Kong rivals.
Anthony Delpech - jockey Vengeance of Rain - "He
is the best horse I've ever ridden and I don't think I'll ever ride
one like him again. Horses like him come round just once in a blue moon.
We found a nice position one off the fence and he was cantering at the
final turn and he really fought hard. He has it all; class and courage."
David Ferraris, trainer Vengeance Of Rain - "He's such a star isn't
he? I think there is still more improvement in him, too. The owners
have asked me not to race him in Dubai so we will target the Hong Kong
Gold Cup, the Audemars Piguet QEII Cup and the Champions & Chater."
ChristopheSoumillon - Pride: "She started well and we were in a
good spot but the trainer wanted me to pull her back off the pace. If
we stay where we were she wins for sure."
Richard Hills - Maraahel: "He ran a cracking race. That's his proper
form. He was very brave and the older he gets the better he gets."
Sir Michael Stoute, trainer Maraahel: "He ran up to his best and
to the pound with Pride on Champion Stakes form."
Douglas Whyte - River Dancer: "He is just not ready for a race
like this yet."
AndraschStarke - Epalo: "He has had many problems before so I'm
happy with him. He has run okay."
ChristopheLemaire - Touch Of Land: "I would have like a stronger
gallop but he has run very well for fifth place. I am not disappointed."
Felix Coetzee - Russian Pearl: "He was too fresh after his break
from racing but what an excellent performance in such a good race."
Olivier Doleuze - Green Treasure: "He ran much too freely."
KierenFallon - Willow O Wisp: "It is difficult for three-year-olds
in this sort of race."
Kevin Manning - Alexander Goldrun: "It was a slowly run race and
the gap didn't open for her. It was just one of those things."
Jim Bolger (trainer) - Alexander Goldrun: "Unusual for her as in
normal circumstances she would have gone through the gap but he (Kevin
Manning) was niggling at her turning into the straight. The slow pace
was not an issue. We've still got a 50% strike rate here!"
Displaying class and grit in equal measure to triumph in the HK$18m Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Cup, Vengeance Of Rain became the first Hong Kong-trained horse to win the World Racing Championship before an enthralled Sha Tin on Sunday, 11 December 2005.
