'He was cantering over them from the Rock. He gave them a galloping lesson,' says Fradd after King's return

Horse of the Year Fairy King Prawn gave notice that he's going to be able to mix with the best sprinter-milers in the world with a record-equalling victory in last night's Happy Valley Trophy at the city venue.

The Ivan Allan-trained five-year-old, seen out for the first time since his landmark victory in Japan at the end of last season, hardly came off the bridle to beat stablemate Plenty-Plenty by a classy and cosy length, with Solid Contact a neck back in third.

Jockey Robbie Fradd did not have to get serious with Fairy King Prawn at any stage of the 1,200-metre contest, yet the son of Danehill - good enough to win the inaugural running of the International Sprint last December but undoubtedly much improved since moving to Allan - was able to equal Bumper Storm's track record of one minute, 09.3 seconds.

And all this under a welter burden of 135 pounds and racing for the first time this season.

No wonder Fradd was not in anyway underestimating last night's opponents when he declared on return to scale: 'He was cantering over them from the Rock. It was little more than an exercise gallop for him. He was different class. He gave them a galloping lesson.'

Allan is on a buying mission at the Newmarket Sales in England from where he was in telephone contact to the Valley, anxious to hear how his champion performed, bearing in mind he is setting him for the HK$8 million Mile Championship at Kyoto racetrack in Japan on November 19, prior to one of this December's International events back at Sha Tin.

Allan said: 'My first reaction is one of relief, not just because he has won and won well but because of the track. In the past it has been taking a bit of a chance to run a top horse like this at Happy Valley, but they have done a lot of work on the track in the past year or two and it is much improved.