The Duke overpowers Mile Trial rivals
Grand racehorse The Duke tipped over the stars in the Cathay Pacific International Mile Trial with his superior dash of speed but the race left trainer Caspar Fownes smiling through the tears.
'What can you say about The Duke? He's been such a marvellous horse for his owners since we bought him at the Jockey Club sale [three years ago] and he's done it all from two years to five, wet and dry, and at both tracks,' Fownes said.
'But as happy as I am to have won the race at all, it's heartbreaking to see my other horse, Perfect Partner, continue to have no luck in his races.
'The Duke has won today and that's great - he's earned his crack at the Hong Kong Mile - but I still believe Perfect Partner is the better miler and still my best chance against the international horses.'
After just an even tempo to the home turn, Perfect Partner (Patrick Payne) was trapped in a pocket underneath favourite Super Kid (Shane Dye) down the straight with Dye clearly looking around to his inside to make sure he had Perfect Partner locked away.
And Robbie Fradd decided that was the trigger for letting go The Duke, regarded as an inferior miler in yesterday's crack field but indisputably the best sprinter, and the five-year-old put a positive spin on the South African rider's season in a few bounds.
'It's wonderful of Caspar to give me the chance to win one of these good races,' said Fradd, who was utterly frustrated with his lack of opportunities earlier this season. 'I followed Super Kid all the way and The Duke travelled beautifully. They hadn't gone that hard in the race and when we straightened up a lot of the jockeys around me were still sitting there with plenty of horse so I thought, 'Now's the time to go'. My horse sprinted very quickly and that turn of foot is what won him the race.'
The gelding established a break on Super Kid, Elegant Fashion and Meridian Star in a few strides, and while the latter pair cut back his advantage nearing the post, The Duke's commitment and tenacity kicked in to grab the verdict.
The Duke may now become the first International Sale graduate to line up in a Hong Kong International Race in the Mile next month, after yesterday making his selection a formality when the runners are announced this week.
'He had won over 1,650m at Happy Valley so it wasn't as if he was no chance of running out the mile, but it's nice to see him do it against the big boys,' Fownes said. 'We spent a lot of time trying to switch him off last season to get him to go a mile and further, and he did run one good race over it here once, but you see him there today, older, more relaxed and he just dropped his head for Robbie.'
John Size-trained Super Kid started favourite and disappointed no one with his fourth, conceding five pounds to the winner and being caught wide for the entire race.
'He didn't have the best of luck being out three wide without cover but I thought the horse ran very well,' Size said. 'If you look at his form, you'll know he's even better if there's a bit of rain around, so I'd love to see a shower or two between now and the international races. I haven't decided yet which he will run in, but I'll be waiting as long as possible to see which looks the weakest.'
The David Hayes-trained Meridian Star may have earned his way into the internationals again with his performance and there was no faulting Elegant Fashion's return, while the David Oughton-trained Figures should have been closer. To add salt to the wounds of Patrick Payne, he earned himself a two-day ban and $15,000 fine over interference to Figures and Ho Choi over the final 200m as he shifted in probing for clear running on Perfect Partner. He will commence the ban immediately.
