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Racing Information - Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Mile- Roundup
JAPANESE ACE HAT TRICK SWOOPS TO LAND CATHAY PACIFIC HONG KONG MILE
Japan's Mile Championship winner Hat Trick transported his national status to the international stage when landing the CXHK MILE at Sha Tin under Olivier Peslier.
Sent off as second favourite behind local hope Bullish Luck, Hat Trick was towards the rear of the field early in third last spot under a patient ride from Peslier.
Turning into the straight Hat Trick started to improve his position and came with a decisive run from the 300 metre mark to take the race by the scruff of the neck and win by a length and a quarter from the Darren Beadman ridden The Duke, who had raced prominently throughout, but who had no response to the winner's decisive thrust.
Afterwards a delighted Peslier said: "It was a great race, and he's a wonderful horse. He was as good here as he was in the Mile Championship last time. He races from the rear, he was drawn wide, but I was always confident."
The Tony Cruz trained favourite Bullish Luck raced in about eighth spot and ran on to finish fourth, without ever looking likely to take a hand in the finish. Dave's Best was third, half a length behind The Duke, who was the same distance ahead of Bullish Luck.
The disappointment of the race was Rakti, who missed the break from gate three, and travelled on the fence in about sixth spot, but never looked to be happy in the race, never gave his jockey Philip Robinson any cause for hope at all. "He was not the same Rakti, the gears were just not there today," lamented Robinson.
There was a quarter of an hour's delay to the start of the race when a lead weight was found on the floor, which necessitated the runners being unsaddled, the jockeys weighing out again, and the horses re-saddled before the race could take place, a factor that cannot have helped the more volatile contenders.
Asakusa Den'en , Japan's other challenger ran well from his widest draw in gate 14 to finish sixth just behind Court Masterpiece under Kieran Fallon, who got a dream run up the rail.
Fallon said, " At one point I thought I might get there, but he weakened in the last 100 yards."
JOCKEY/TRAINER QUOTES
Olivier Peslier - Hat Trick - "He's really good. Today's race was quite similar to when he won the Mile Championship at Kyoto. I just wanted to take my time and produce him on the outside because he is better when going around horses. I was always confident when he broke well and he quickened up really very well."Katsuhiko Sumii, trainer Hat Trick - 'Thanks to the jockey Peslier, I am very happy to win. Peslier knows the horse's nature and he can bring his potential very well. His next start has not yet been determined, but we will do our best every time we have a chance to race. It was a great race and my horse showed very good performance in the stretch."
Darren Beadman - The Duke - 'It was a great effort. He did everything right. He didn't weaken in the final furlong. He just couldn't hold off the winner who was too good.'
Philip Robinson - Rakti - 'It was not the same Rakti. The gears just weren't there today. Didn't have the same horse under me and he couldn't improve from a lovely position.'
Shinji Fujita - Asakusa Den'en - "The horse was in really good condition today and he answered me very well. The wide draw didn't help but I think it was a good race."
Gerald Mosse - Bullish Luck - 'He's travelled well for me and I got a run on the outside and he showed some acceleration but he doesn't seem to be quite as good as he was.'
Shane Dye - Super Kid - 'No excuses but he was feeling the track.'
Kieran Fallon - Court Masterpiece - 'He ran a great race. From here we were drawn I was having trouble getting across. After they turned for home I thought he had a chance on the inside but didn't have any extra in the final half furlong."
Felix Coetzee - Perfect Partner - "I had every chance."
Christophe Soumillon - Dave's Best - "I was just behind the winner but when I tried to get out there was a problem. I was very pleased with him. He really finished the race off well."
Douglas Whyte - High Intelligent - "He ran a good race. It was a solid effort. He's not quite up to the very best milers."
Eric Saint-Martin - Scintillation - "I tried to steal the race but he just didn't go on again in the stretch."
Glyn Schofield - Town of Fionn - "He had a tough run on the speed and couldn't kick when it counted."
Olivier Doleuze - Wealthy - "It was too hard for him and I don't think he is as good when coming through horses either."
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