Grassland Star gives Kan final Governor's glory

It went almost as if it had been scripted. The final Governor's Cup at last night's Happy Valley meeting was won by the Brian Kan Ping-chee-trained Grassland Star.

The larger-than-life Kan, a former multiple champion trainer as well as a prominent and vocal New Territories' politician, was the people's choice to be the last recipient of one of local racing's most prestigious trophies.

There was much roaring and cheering from the balconies as Grassland Star held off Dragon's Pal by a neck, equalling Classabove's 1,000-metre course record time of 57.9 seconds. And Kan emerged from his throng of owners to beam to the assembled media scrum: 'The Governor is my very good friend. It will be very good to meet him again especially as my horse has won.' Governor Chris Patten was accompanied by his wife Lavender whose middle name, St Leger, is the last Classic race of each British Flat season and results from her father's passion for the turf.

Grassland Star and Dragon's Pal were one-two throughout this 1,000-metre dash on a night where the fresh ground on the inside fence at the Valley helped the leaders.

Grassland Star always appeared to be going slightly the better but jockey Anton Marcus had to get very serious in the closing stages to hold off Dragon's Pal, who fought tooth and nail to the line.

'Yours must be good,' Eric Saint-Martin, the rider of the runner-up, leant over and told Kan as he rode his mount into the unsaddling enclosure.