MORE than 80,000 race-goers watched French trainer Patrick Biancone's late substitute Helene Star gain Hongkong Derby glory at Sha Tin yesterday.
Biancone only put Helene Star into the $3.5-million race when Charming Talker broke down in midweek.
And it was a perfect start to the one-month stint of French rider Eric Legrix, deputising for injured Gerald Mosse.
''I started with a different horse and a different jockey, but I have got the result I hoped for,'' Biancone said.
There were 68,686 on course at Sha Tin with another 12,965 using the cross-betting facilities at Happy Valley. The $1 billion turnover mark was again broken.
Helene Star went clear in the final 100 metres to win from Red Ruffian and Northern Fire Ball in the 1,800-metre Classic, worth $2,114,130 to winning owners Mr and Mrs Woo Po-shing and Mr Cheung Wai-hing.
