While still around the subject of the Sprinters Stakes and Ultra Fantasy, it is worth highlighting what a noteworthy achievement by Alex Lai Hoi-wing to put an international Group One win on his resume.

It was obvious to most that he was the first Chinese jockey to have done this and that in itself is really something, but it becomes even more of an achievement, given the rare wins even at a domestic level by the local riders in recent times.

An ongoing trend to overlook local jockeys in big races has meant that, since the turn of the century, only Jimmy Ting Koon-ho and Eddy Lai Wai-ming have lifted Group One trophies - each of them in the race now known as the Classic Mile in 2000 and 2003 respectively.