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Prince of Wales Stakes Del Mar Futurity Del Mar Debutante Pacific Classic Day Pat O'Brien Stakes |
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 Trainer Mike de Kock leads Eagle Mountain back to the unsaddling area while jockey Kevin Shea waves to the fans |
The main event of the Cathay Pacific Hong Kong International Races is the HK$20 million ($2.58 million U.S.) Hong Kong Cup (G1), a 2000-meter (about 1 1/4 mile) trip around two turns of the main turf course at Sha Tin. Last year's runner-up and main local hope Viva Pataca was sent off as the 3-10 odds-on choice in the field of 14, coming into this race off a 2-race win streak consisting of the Mission Hills Trophy (G3) and the Cup Trial (G2), the main local prep for the Cup. Eagle Mountain, from the globe-trotting barn of South African trainer Mike de Kock, was the 5-1 second choice, exiting his runner-up finish to Conduit in the Breeders' Cup Turf at Santa Anita. Lush Lashes, the 3-year-old filly making her first start against males, was the 13-1 third choice for trainer Jim Bolger coming off a close second in the Prix de l'Opera (G1) at Longchamp after winning both the Yorkshire Oaks (G1) and Matron Stakes (G1).
 First time by and shortly after the start with Viva Macau and Sight Winner out front. |
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# Horse Jockey Win Place Show 1 Eagle Mountain Shea 9.00 5.10 4.60 5 Balius Mosse 12.90 9.40 3 Linngari Moore 26.20 Winning Time: 2:00.92 $2 Exacta 1-5 103.10 $2 Trifecta 1-5-3 2107.00 * Note that these are the payoffs for the North American pool at Woodbine.Results Chart from HKJC |
Left: Eagle Mountain in the winner's circle
Right: Winning owner Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Maktoum holds the Hong Kong Cup at the trophy presentation with jockey Kevin Shea and trainer Mike de Kock on the left. de Kock said, "He was very well ridden by Kevin. The other horses were messing around at the start and he missed the break by half a length and he had to improvise. I think he won it on the turn when he got out of trouble and was able to sweep around the horses that were coming back to him. You could see around the turn he was travelling extremely well just like he did in the Breeders' Cup. He will have a break now before Dubai and he will run on Super Thursday to decide if we run him over 9f (Duty Free) or 1 1/2 miles (Sheema Classic) on World Cup night. I've thought for a while he might be as good as Archipenko and Sun Classique, and after today he may even be better."
Left: Eagle Mountain heads out on the track before the race.
Right: Eagle Mountain parades with his winner's sash after the race. Winning jockey Kevin Shea said, "I had a clear run straightening and I waited until I was well inside the 400 to set him alight and when I was inside the 300 I glanced at the big screen and I saw he had gone clear and I knew it was race over. This is a special horse and has improved from America. Maybe the injury has done him a world of good and given him time to rest. Mike's results speak for themselves. He has won races in about every country in the world at Group One level."
Left: Second place finisher Balius was a bit fractious in the post parade. His jockey Gerald Mosse said, "You are never satisfied when you finish second, but he's run a good race. I followed the winner through but couldn't close him down. It's the first time I've ridden him, and he's worth getting to know as he has so much heart."
Right: Third place finisher Linngari returns after the race. His jockey Ryan Moore said, "I am delighted with him he ran a great race." Owner Rupert Plersch added, "What a shame he had that draw (post 12), he definitely would have finished second with a better draw. He showed great acceleration and has shown what he can do."
Left: Fourth place finisher and beaten favorite Viva Pataca, who was second last year, returns after the race. His jockey Darren Beadman said, "I was hammered at the 1000m mark. We were knocked around from pillar to post."
Right: Eagle Mountain was not impressed with the way they do the winner's circle in Hong Kong and threw a small fit after standing there for only a short time.
The jockeys for the Hong Kong Cup pose in the paddock before the race. From left to right they are: Olivier Peslier, Gerald Mosse, Douglas Whyte, Brett Prebble, Kevin Manning, Garrett Gomez, Daniele Porcu, Ioritz Mendizabal, Anthony Crastus, Kevin Shea, Darren Beadman, Christophe Soumillon, Zac Purton. Missing is Ryan Moore who rode Linngari.
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