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Racing Information - Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Mile- Roundup
Third time lucky for The Duke in Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Mile
Third in Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Mile in 2004 and second last year, The Duke pinched Hong Kong's premier mile event under an excellent tactical ride from Olivier Doleuze.
Trained by Caspar Fownes, The Duke was always travelling well in the box-seat position and made a race-winning move at the head of the stretch. Tenaciously, he held onto the advantage as the Douglas Whyte-ridden 6/5 favourite Armada did his utmost to run him down in the final strides, failing by a head to get up.
Ramonti, in the hands of Endo Botti, cut out the early pace in the race, and held on gallantly for third place, with a wall of horses behind him.
Afterwards an elated Olivier Doleuze said: "It's great to win my first Group Race in Hong Kong, and this horse deserves his success. He has been placed in the race twice before and today was his day. I grabbed an advantage at the head of the straight, and that was what won it for me. I could feel Douglas Whyte closing on me, but I'm happy that today was our day and that he held on."
For Armada it was a case of what might have been. Sent off as the Hong Kong public's elect on the strength of his victory in the CX International Mile Trial, where he had The Duke back in second, Armada did absolutely nothing wrong in defeat, as Douglas Whyte threw everything into the closing stages in his bid to catch the winner. " What can you say, when you go down by a head? The post came a stride too soon, but he ran brilliantly and he gave me everything."
The pace set by Ramonti, who was tracked by Sir Ernesto for a large part of the race, was an honest one, and set the race up perfectly for the late dual between the two principals. Armada apart, none of the other contenders were able to take a hand in the finish, once Doleuze had launched The Duke on his run to the wire.
The time was very quick - the 1 minute 33.4 run was just one-tenth of a second outside a track record standing for 23 years.
Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Mile - Quotes1st Olivier Doleuze (The Duke):
"It is a special day, special story and special horse. The pace was perfect for me and in the straight I made a move and got a slight lead and that is what won the race for me because Douglas (Whyte) was coming very hard at the finish."
1st Caspar Fownes (The Duke):
"Very pleased to have won this race. We planned his campaign so this was his fourth race as he always seems to win on his fourth start each year. Although he is a seven year old he is in the form of his life. He has been placed in this race before and it is great he has finally won it. It's my first Group One win and it's very special."
2nd - Douglas Whyte (Armada):
"What can I say? The post came a stride too soon. He ran brilliantly, he gave me everything."
3rd Edmondo Botti (Ramonti):
"Very happy with the run and an especially good effort from the draw. I hoped I might get an easy lead early but he showed he is up to running in this class and he kept on well."
4th - Brett Prebble (Bullish Luck):
"That was a solid run. He's had an interrupted preparation ?he always runs well and he will improve further."
7th Frankie Dettori (Floral Pegasus):
"He ran OK. He settled nicely but the last 200 metres were too much for him. These were top class milers and at this level he is not quite good enough at this trip."
8th Edgar Prado (Rebel Rebel):
"He broke well but was not good enough at the end."
9th Felix Coetzee (Sir Ernesto)
"I wanted to lead but the Italian horse pressured him and we couldn't get in front. It was too much for him in the end."
10th Eric Saint- Martin (Russian Pearl):
"He was just not good enough."
11th - Gerald Mosse (Bowmans Crossing):
"He pulled up sore."
12th - Yutaka Take (Dance In The Mood)
13th - Michael Kinane (Dave's Best)
"Never really got into it. I don't think he's found his form yet."
14th Declan McDonagh (Mustameet):
"I had a nice position but he was under pressure a long way from home. He just emptied in the straight."
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