Red Ruffian returns to carry off Prize for Hill
LONG-range planning paid off for championship-chasing trainer David Hill yesterday when Derby runner-up Red Ruffian (9-1) floored the territory's best sprinters in the $2.5 million Chairman's Prize.
Hill, now three behind champion trainer John Moore, was capturing the Prize for the second successive year, having pulled it off last year with now sidelined and stable-transferred Concert King.
''It has been a great eight days for the stable as River Verdon won the Champ and Chater and now Red Ruffian has won the Prize. I had this race mapped out for Red Ruffian months ago.
''Frankly we took a chance with him in the Derby because I thought it was a very weak race and we could come from behind in it and maybe do something. It worked out to a large extent and then it was a case of getting him ready for this.
''He had a run in the ATV Cup but this was his race. I have never thought he was a great worker in the mornings but he ran a lovely trial under the lights at Sha Tin recently and I knew he was well,'' enthused Hill.
Red Ruffian scored by three-parts of a length in a driving finish from the Moore-trained Happy Money (20-1) with Optic Empire (10-1) a head away third, inches ahead of favourite Quicken Away (9-5) in fourth spot.
The Red Ruffian success was the second leg of a vital double for champion jockey Basil Marcus who has now trimmed the lead of Tony Cruz back to seven winners with eight race days remaining.
Red Ruffian, an English import who has easily repaid his purchase price, finished infinitely stronger than anything in the field although both Happy Money and Quicken Away did strike interference.
Robert Thompson rode Happy Money and he was steadied on the rail just outside the 200-metre mark although it could not have materially affected the result. But it was a most encouraging performance from Happy Money who was badly hit by the virus in December.
Quicken Away was squeezed and checked in a fairly roughly-run race and jockey Gerald Mosse said: ''He was only beaten a little over a length and he lost about three. You cannot have this sort of interference and expect to win top races.'' Sound Print (16-1) looked a major chance just inside the 200 metres but faded on the run to finish fifth but it was still his best showing since the Stewards' Cup last November.
Optic Empire ran a top race and jockey John Marshall said: ''It is really a bit short for him these days but if the track had been rain-affected it would have made a lot of difference.'' Optic Empire ran freely in the early stages but impressed overall and could well get away with a suitable 1,400 or 1,600-metre event before the curtain falls.
The Prize win was vital for Marcus in his unceasing quest to retain his title and with Cruz drawing a blank while looking to have chances, it is not all over yet.
Outsider Pinch The Devil (80-1) made good late headway for Frankie F. C. Lor to finish officially seventh but he is one to be on when returning to handicap events. His poorish run last time could be put down to the wet conditions as he does not look builtto handle soft ground.
Marcus partnered good Irish import Fukien Boy (7-2) for Ivan Allan in the Class Two, 1,000-metre third event and, as expected, the three-year-old lived right up to the promise shown at his first start here.
Fukien Boy, drawn in barrier 13, was never in danger of defeat, moving sweetly for Marcus and taking command about 300 metres out.
Allan produced a stable quinella in the race with last start winner Sterling Town (25-1) running on late for maximum claimer Y. S. Wong, easily running down fading favourite Namjong Again (7-2), the first of several disappointments on the day for Cruz.
