Sweet victory for International's late starter
Absolute Champion, controversially omitted from the initial field of the Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Sprint, yesterday won the HK$12 million race at Sha Tin in record time. Last month David Hall, the gelding's Australian trainer, was shocked when the selection panel left the horse out of the race, after Hall bypassed the Sprint Trial, assuming Absolute Champion would be included on past form.
However, thanks to the late withdrawal of Red Clubs on Tuesday, Absolute Champion was given a start. Ridden by Brett Prebble, Absolute Champion vindicated Hall by cutting three-tenths of a second off his 68.1-second course record.
Afterwards, Hall could not resist a dig at the selections: 'I think the handicapper was watching today - I don't know how he's feeling, but I'm feeling pretty good.'
The Jockey Club was a winner, too. It recorded betting turnover up HK$81.7 million for the Cathay Pacific International Races, or almost 10 per cent, year on year. The crowd was up 27 per cent to 56,338.
Only Takeover Target's positive steroid test struck an unpleasant note, as stewards withdrew the Australian horse from the Sprint shortly before 1pm. Ouija Board was scratched because of a leg injury.
'To lose our two stars and still come up with such a magnificent day's racing was a tremendous result,' said Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges, the Jockey Club's chief executive-designate.
