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Two of the four Group I races at Sha Tin racecourse in Hong Kong were won by horses who had been victorious in the trials in the third week of November. Sacred Kingdom proved the best in the Cathay Pacific Sprint. Good Ba Ba won the Hong Kong Mile in a cliff hanger over Creachadoir.
Viva Pataca, a piping hot choice in the Hong Kong Cup, failed to catch Ramonti in the Hong Kong Cup. Doctor Dino brought glory to France with a decisive win in the Hong Kong Vase-a 2400-metre event.
The wagering was brisk. The fans had turned out in record-breaking numbers. You could not have asked for better racing weather. The turf course was rated ‘firm’ for the most part. The going could not have been an excuse for any of the runners.
Sacred Kingdom had displayed a devastating turn of foot in the Sprint trial. After that overwhelming show of speed and raw power, there were some who voiced doubt whether Sacred Kingdom could reproduce that brilliance on Sunday. They were silenced. Trainer Ricky Yiu had not wavered in his faith in his charge. In the days leading up to the race, trainer Yiu had asserted that there was considerable room for improvement.
Jockey Gerald Mosse settled his mount in the rear. As the field approached the final turn, Mosse and Sacred Kingdom had surged into contention. They struck the front inside the last 200 metres and the winner of the Sprint had been spotted. Absolute Champion, the winner of the 2006 Sprint, took the runner-up berth. Royal Delight finished third.
The European challengers, Benbaun and Desert Lord did not make the frame. Miss Andretti, Australia’s best known horse and the King’s Stand champion at Royal Ascot this year, was not a player.
Jockey Gerald Mosse was thrilled. “He’s a very, very good horse. Quite simply, one of the best I have been on. In the final bend, I had all the horse in the world and not the room. When we found the room, boom.”
Trainer Ricky Yiu said, “He may be the best sprinter in the world today. I was somewhat worried final turn. When he got clear, he showed the turn of foot that we expected from him. He will stay in HK and there are more races for him.”
Sacred Kingdom is a four year-old by Encosta De Lago. Courtroom Sweetie by Zeditave is the dam.
Craig Newitt, rider of Miss Andretti, expressed disappointment. “She could not get across from her wide draw (post 12) and struggled all the way. She was on her Melbourne ‘left’ leg and never comfortable.” I do not know what ‘Melbourne left leg’ is. When I find out I will let you know.
The Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Vase was won by Doctor Dino. The coincidence was that Doctor Dino had beaten Sunriver in the Grade I Man O’War at Belmont Park this year and the latter won his first Grade I at Hollywood Park on Saturday.
Doctor Dino was third in Newmarket’s Champion Stakes in late October when running behind Literato and Eagle Mountain. Trained by France-based Richard Gibson, Doctor Dino was ridden by Olivier Peslier. Produced in the final 400 metres, Doctor Dino quickened spiritedly to win by one and one half lengths from Quijano and Andrasch Starke. The time for 2400 metres was 2 28.02 seconds. Doctor Dino was 8-1 in the betting. Bussoni took third and Arch Rebel was fourth. Dylan Thomas, the 7/10 favourite, finished seventh after trailing all the way. He was interfered with and stumbled and dropped out turning for home.
Trainer Richard Gibson spoke about his training philosophy. “We campaigned Doctor Dino sparingly. You cannot race often if you want to be competitive in these big races. It is great everything went according to plan.”
Olivier Peslier, whose riding is a treat to watch, was restrained in his adulation of his winning mount. “We started well. We were blocked down the backstretch. He always travelled well. He stayed the 2,400 metres well and kept going. He had a strong turn of foot when I let him go. I knew early in the stretch I was going to win.”
Andrasch Starke on Quijano was adamant that interference, at a critical stage, cost him the race. “I was blocked three times. We lost our momentum. I was running on at the end.”
Aidan O’Brien put a positive spin talking about Dylan Thomas. “Whether he would run at all here was a question mark. The stable lads deserve credit for keeping him sound. The Japan quarantine and other things--it has been a long, hard year for Dylan Thomas. He was way overweight. There was nothing we could do about it. It is important he is safe.”
In the paddock, Dylan Thomas, even to the untrained eye, looked anything but fit. There was that belly that told you not to wager on him. The negatives were there for all to see and they outweighed the positives. The Hong Kong fans trusted the reputation that preceded Dylan Thomas more than what their eyes helped them see in terms of the writing on the wall. The fact that a trainer of O’Brien’ stature would let a horse in that condition race shows us all that even astute people get their judgement clouded by personal predilections.
Ramonti ended 2007 on a winning note with a score in the 2,000-metre Hong Kong Cup. The Godolphin-owned Ramonti was winning his fourth Grade I win this year and beat back a fierce challenge from the odds-on Viva Pataca, Mick Kinane up. After deliberating on an inquiry for interference, the stewards let the result stand.
Ramonti got away third in a field of seven. Turning for home, Frankie Dettori and Ramonti drew first blood. They hit the front midway down the lane. Viva Pataca, overcoming a spot of trouble, came calling. Under a strong drive, Ramonti kept the advantage to win by slightly less than a length. The time was 2 02.8 seconds on a firm turf course. Ramonti was about 4-1.
Ramonti is a five year-old. He is by Martino Alonso. Fosca is the mother and she is by El Gran Senor.
Saeed Bin Suroor, Ramonti’s trainer was pleased that his decision to skip the Breeders’ Cup proved to be the correct one. “He won three Group I races in England this year. He is a world champion miler. We wanted to try 2000 toward season’s end. Frankie gave him a brilliant ride. In the future, we will seriously consider 2,000-metre races. Frankie did not do anything wrong and the inquiry, necessary as it was, did not alter the placings.”
Frankie Dettori paid a tribute to Ramonti’s courage. “He’s one of the bravest I have ridden. He tries hard for me. A bit keen now and then but today I knew it would take a really good one to get past him. He is a fighter. It has been a great year and this is a great way to top it off.”
Simon Crisford, Godolphin’s Racing Manager, commented on future plans for Ramonti. “The Dubai World Cup may be the target. We will wait and see. Missing the Breeders’ Cup is a good call in hindsight. He is a super star and a tough horse. He is truly an international runner.”
Mick Kinane, Viva Pataca’s jockey, said, “Lack of pace hurt us. There was some trouble with running room in the straight but we needed a brisk pace. We did not get it.”
