Japan’s Satono Crown powered late and hard under local hero Joao Moreira to overhaul hot favourite Highland Reel in a pulsating edition of the HK$16.5 million Gr1 LONGINES Hong Kong Vase at Sha Tin on Sunday.
The packed crowd roared the two lead protagonists to the wire and when Moreira’s mount edged his tiring rival with mere strides remaining, the travelling Japanese fan club joined with Moreira’s dedicated Sha Tin faithful in lauding the gutsy victor.
Satono Crown holds off Highland Reel
For Hong Kong’s record-breaking champion jockey, Satono Crown’s win ensured he joined Gerald Mosse as the only rider to complete a full-house of LONGINES Hong Kong International Races, following last year’s Sprint success and a 2014 double in the Mile and Cup.
“It’s a dream come true to achieve the full house,” he said. “I thought this horse was a very good chance before the race and the feeling that he gave me on the track the other day was great, so I knew I had a lot of horse underneath.”
Moreira needed a lot of horse. Highland Reel lined up for the 14-runner contest as the 1.5 favourite off an all-the-way win in last month’s Gr1 Breeders’ Cup Turf – one of four career Gr1’s to the globetrotter’s name, including this race last year.
And when Ryan Moore, newly-crowned 2016’s LONGINES World’s Best Jockey, kicked hard into the stretch, opening up a wide margin on the field, Aidan O’Brien’s charge appeared set for an imperious repeat win.
Joao Moreira – enjoyed his ride
Moreira, though, had other ideas. “I was always confident I would get there,” he said.
“The way he won today, he’s shown that he’s got a lot of talent. He beat a world class horse in Highland Reel and being his rider today is a blessing.”
The victory was a second for Japan in the Vase, 15 years after Stay Gold triumphed for Yasuo Ikee and Yutaka Take. It also provided Japan’s champion trainer Noriyuki Hori with a second LONGINES HKIR win after Maurice’s Mile title 12 months ago.
“We had been considering this race and after his performance in the Tenno Sho (Autumn) we decided to make this a priority,” Hori said, “We’re happy that the horse has been able to come through and perform at his best.
“This horse was at a very high level even as a two-year-old, winning a Group race. We’ll now take time to look at the horse and take time to talk to connections and discuss what this horse’s next race will be.”
Aidan O’Brien was satisfied with Highland Reel’s effort, coming at the end of a 12-month span that has seen the horse race 10 times in six countries.
“He ran very well, he’s had a long season but he ran a great race – he ran his heart out. He’s had a phenomenal season,” the Ballydoyle handler said.
