The Hong Kong International Races
Dateline: 12/16/01
The 2001 Hong Kong International Races, run on Sunday December 16th at Sha Tin racecourse, might as well have been called the Japan International Races as Japanese entrants swept all three Group 1 races on the card.
Agnes Digital (#1 on the outside) overtaking Toubogg to win the Hong Kong Cup. |
Agnes Digital crowned a memorable day for Japanese racing with a battling victory in the HK$18 million Hong Kong Cup, the final leg of the Emirates World Series, at Sha Tin today. Ridden confidently near the pace by Hirofumi Shii, Agnes Digital hit the front with a furlong to go and fended off the repeated efforts of Tobougg on his inside and Terre A Terre on his outside by a margin of a head and half
a length. Agnes Digital's win was the third of the day for Japanese runners.
The Hong Kong Cup is the final race of the 2001 Emirates World Series Racing Championship. For the second year in succession, Simon Crisford received the Emirates World Series trophy in Hong Kong for Godolphin, whose brilliant Fantastic Light had wrapped up the title by winning the Breeders' Cup Turf at Belmont Park on October 27.
Eishin Preston drew away to an easy win in the Hong Kong Mile. |
Eishin Preston, waltzed away in the HK$14million Hong Kong Mile to give his country a second winner at the Hong Kong International Races. The well-backed Japanese favourite, Zenno El Cid, finished last. Electronic Unicorn, rated Hong Kong's best chance of a home win at the International Races, emerged with great credit, finishing second, 3 1/4 lengths adrift of the dazzling winner. Three quarters of a length further back in third was the Godolphin-trained China Visit, with Forbidden Apple, runner-up in the Breeders' Cup Mile in October, in fourth place.
Stay Gold (#9, outside) narrowly beat Ekraar in the Hong Kong Vase. |
The determination of Yutaka Take and bravery of Stay Gold, coupled with the daring and bravado of Frankie Dettori, set up a finish of the ages in the HK$14 million Hong Kong Vase. The favourite Stay Gold
prevailed in the last millisecond of a dramatic act that will be long remembered by those privileged to see it. With a furlong to go in the 2400 m (1 1/2 mile) event, Ekraar was still well clear, galloping strongly and seemingly assured of victory. But Yutaka Take had other ideas aboard Stay Gold. However, his task still appeared looked forlorn inside the 1/16 pole. However, Stay Gold kept rallying on the outside as Ekraar began to feel the pinch and the Japanese horse prevailed memorably in the final strides by a head. 6 3/4 lengths further back, Indigenous was rallying to finish third in his fifth run in the race. Foundation Spirit was fourth for France.
Pavelon in the victory arch for the Hong Kong Sprint. |
The Japanese did not sweep all the International Races on the card. The Australians had their say in the HK$8 million Group 2 Hong Kong Sprint, as Falvelon won the event for the second year in a row. Falvelon collared fellow Australian Century Kid at about the 1/16 pole and repelled the sustained challenge out wide from US based Morluc. There was just a bob of the heads in it at the line. Hong Kong's All Thrills Too stayed on strongly to grab third place just a head of the principals with Century Kid back in fourth in the climax to the richest 1000m (5 furlong) race in the world.
Photos by courtesy of the Hong Kong Jockey Club
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