Cindy's Horse Racing Website Index
Latest Articles

 Derby Future Pool 5
 Tampa Bay Derby
 Santa Anita Hcp Day
 Gotham Stakes Day
 Kentucky Derby Contenders

2006 Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Sprint Results


Absolute Champion parades for the fans. The big red things on his bridle are called "side winkers" and are not something you see in races in North America.
Date: 12/10/06

The HK$12 million (about $1.6 million US) Hong Kong Sprint (G1) is the second event of the Cathay Pacific Hong Kong International Races. It had been run over a 1000-meter (about 5 furlong) straightaway since its inception, but this year the event was extended to 1200 meters (about 6 furlongs) around one turn of Sha Tin Racecourse. Originally 14 horses were drawn, but Takeover Target was scratched the day of the race for failing a drug test. Sunny Sing was set off as the 8-5 favorite over 4-1 second choice Down Town. Absolute Champion was the 5-1 third choice and 2004 winner Silent Witness was 6-1, showing that the local fans, 51,000 strong, were heavily backing their hometown heroes at the windows.

Absolute Champion leads down the stretch with Benbaun on the far outside and Silent Witness in the middle with the green silks.

40-1 Natural Blitz and 30-1 Desert Lord battled up front down the backstretch and around the turn through a quick initial quarter in 22.90. Silent Witness sat in midpack saving ground along the rail while Absolute Champion was just to his outside and Sunny Sing another path further out. Down Town settled at the rear of the field early, off the rail away from traffic trouble. At the top of the stretch, after a half in 44.70, Desert Lord surged to the front with the late-rushing 17-1 Scintillation also putting in his bid for the lead. However the quick pace set the race up for the closers. In mid-stretch, Absolute Champion closed well just off the rail, taking a 2 length lead with a furlong to go, and easily drew away from the pack to win by 4 1/4 lengths over the onrushing Silent Witness. Absolute Champion lowered his own track record by 3/10 second, completing the trip in 1:07.80. It was another length back to deep-closing 38-1 longshot Benbaun in third, while Down Town was fourth.


 #  Horse                Jockey          Win  Place   Show
12  Absolute Champion    Prebble       13.10   5.80   4.50
 7  Silent Witness       Coetzee               6.20   4.80
 5  Benbaun              Spencer                     11.10

$2 Exacta  12-7                    64.70
$2 Trifecta 12-7-5               1113.30
Winning Time:  1:07.80 (new track record)
* Note that these are the payoffs for the North American pool. 
Results Chart from HKJC
Race Replay from HKJC

Absolute Champion heads for the winner's circle. Winning jockey Brett Prebble said, "That was some performance. It was amazing. To win a race like this by over four lengths - wow!"


Absolute Champion in the winner's circle. Winning trainer David Hall said, "It would have been pretty hard to say that he could have improved after his last run when he broke the track record, but somehow he's done it. I was very disappointed that he was not selected for the race in the first place - I thought there were no ifs and buts about breaking a track record but he's more than proved that now."


Mr. Charlie Stewart-Cox, General Manager, Marketing of the Cathay Pacific Airways Limited, present a souvenir to the winning jockey, Brett Prebble while Absolute Champion's owners, Mr. and Mrs. Eddie Wong Ming-chak, hold their trophies on the right.


Absolute Champion returns to the barn after the race. Trainer David Hall said, "That's one of the most impressive wins that I've seen for a long time and it's sweet when it's your own. I know that he had a bit of a reputation before he came to my stable but maybe he just enjoyed the switch. Adding the side-winkers has probably had an effect as well."


Second place finisher Silent Witness heads back to the paddock after the race. He still has a very big fan following and you can see all the people in the background taking his photo. His jockey Felix Coetzee said, "He's run a great race, but he's found one too good. The winner was a firecracker today."


Third place finisher Benbaun returns after the race. His jockey Jamie Spencer said, "Very pleased with his run, they went very fast early, and I was further back than I wanted to be, but turning into the straight I thought he would get into the three." Trainer Mark Wallace added, "I am absolutely thrilled to have a horse that has become the first from the Europe to finish in the frame in this race. He deserves to win a really big one - he has only won two Group Three races back home. There is every chance we shall try and do this again."

For more info:
    Results for the 2006 Hong Kong Cup - won by Pride
    Results for the 2006 Hong Kong Mile - won by The Duke
    Results for the 2006 Hong Kong Vase - won by Collier Hill
    Miscellaneous and Scenic Photos - from the opening to the closing ceremonies
    Entries for the 2006 International Races
    Workout Photos for Saturday - includes 11 of the entrants
    Workout Photos for Friday - includes 18 of the entrants
    Workout Photos for Thursday - includes 18 of the entrants
    2006 Cathay Pacific International Jockeys' Championship - results and photos
    Free Form Guide (past performances)
    2006 Cathay Pacific Hong Kong International Races
    Hong Kong Jockey Club

Back to Horse-Races.Net main page

Want to keep up with what's new on this site?
Sign up for my weekly newsletter here.

On the Forum:


Search Horse-Races.Net:


©1994-2024,  Cindy Pierson Dulay   Privacy Policy   About Us   Search   Site Map   Add a Link   Advertisee   Suggest to a friend   RSS Feed   Follow on Twitter