Fashion statement puts filly in Derby picture

Elegant Fashion threw a new number into the Hong Kong Derby equation yesterday as she stunned trainer David Hayes and jockey Gerald Mosse in achieving the rare feat of a Class One win at her Hong Kong debut.

'That's outstanding,' a jubilant Hayes said. 'I think the only other horse I've had win in Class One first-up here was Resfa and he was a champion. She isn't like a filly - she's a big strong horse, more like a colt and that's why she's here for the Derby.'

Formerly trained by Tony McEvoy under Hayes' Lindsay Park banner, Elegant Fashion was one of the stars of the Australian season in 2001-2002 as she strung a series of Group race wins together in Melbourne, culminating in the Moonee Valley Oaks over 2,040 metres.

She went to Sydney to finish second behind the top filly of the year, Republic Lass, in the Group One AJC Oaks (2,400 metres) at Randwick on the end of her campaign and McEvoy thought he had a budding champion.

'She was entered for everything possible in Australia and overseas,' Hayes said. 'Then she wasn't well for a while in the Australian winter and lost a lot of weight and it affected her campaign for the Caulfield Cup and Cox Plate. She had four starts and wasn't really firing, and it happened that her owner had a permit for Hong Kong so we aborted that campaign and brought her here instead.'

Hong Kong-based owner Dr Gene Tsoi Wai-wang and his wife are longtime clients of the Hayes' training dynasty, having won many races including Group One events with Lindsay Park in the past.