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Murray Bell

Reggie Ho

Over the years, the race has seen more than a few dramatic twists.  Will next Sunday be another  dramatic one for the annual race?  A look at the race's history  might shed some light on the future:

1998

Winner Oriental Express -  A Hong Kong galloper trained by three-time champion trainer Ivan Allan and ridden by South African jockey Douglas Whyte, he  beat top-quality Dubai raider and Royal Ascot winner Starborough  and the German-bred Vialli  to become the first local horse to win the 2,000-metre domestic Group One event and  keep the HK$3.1 million first prize at home.

Owner Larry Yung Chi-kin  was one of the wealthiest men in China and a steward of the Jockey Club for many years.

Second Vialli This placing was co-trainer Paul O'Sullivan's  (in partnership with his father Dave)  first real experience of Hong Kong racing and he is now based here as a full-time trainer,  second on the premiership behind Caspar Fownes.

Third Johan Cruyff  He had won the Derby in the previous month, but failed to dispel what seemed to be the curse of Derby  winners' tendency to fall short of expectations at the QEII Cup.

1999

Winner Jim And Tonic   A French horse handled by French expatriate club jockey Gerald Mosse  and regular Hong Kong raider, who ultimately won three internationals, a Hong Kong Bowl and a Hong Kong Cup.

Second Indigenous  At the time the city's best international horse, winner of the 1998 Hong Kong Vase and second in the Japan Cup the same year, but at 2,000m   he stood little chance against the French galloper's blistering change of pace. Trainer Ivan Allan  said the local hero would undoubtedly be better over 2,400m.

Third Johann Cruyff  History repeats itself for this galloper who some described as being in danger of becoming a bridesmaid but never a bride.

2000

Winner Industrialist Ridden by top British jockey Alan Munro  for Hong Kong's leading local trainer Brian Kan Ping-chee,  who was to become five-time champion trainer before his retirement in 2003, defeated the previous year's champion with the shortest of short heads. Much credit also had to go to Munro, who was no stranger to big-race success.

Second Jim And Tonic  With the previous year's success, the French contender was not surprisingly a champion hopeful, but he drew horribly in barrier 12 and had been travelling a fair bit prior to the race. He previously went to Singapore for the inaugural running of the Singapore Airlines International Cup where he was beaten by local stayer Ouzo.

Third Housemaster  The Ivan Allan-trained galloper was another short head back in third, failing the bid for a fairytale goodbye for Club Jockey David Harrison,  who was in his last race in Hong Kong.

2001

Winner Silvano The victory made this German raider, trained by Andreas Wohler  and handled by Andreas Suborics,  the first German-trained winner in Hong Kong. He later went on to win the Arlington Million in Chicago and had already won  the Singapore Classic (1,800m) in Singapore on the way through.

Second Jim And Tonic  The French favourite had more disappointment after once again failing to live up to expectations. Trainer Francois Doumen  said: 'I'm pleased with that run. We were beaten by a very good horse.'

Third Indigenous  This local horse fared best of the home team with a brave third.

2002

Winner Eishin Preston   This challenger from Japan had his connections cheering in euphoria when he secured a beautiful triumph of speed and strength, winning the first prize as well as a million-dollar bonus from the Jockey Club because of his previous Hong Kong Mile victory.

Second Agnes Digital  This pony-sized contender, also from Japan, ran second despite being still tired from its prior Dubai race and with Eishin Preston took the quinella for his country. He was also winner of the previous Hong Kong Cup

Third Indigenous - The nine-year-old grand old man of Hong Kong racing celebrated his sixth run in the race by taking third.

2003

Winner Eishin Preston  One of the three international contenders deciding to join the race despite the Sars outbreak.

Second Elegant Fashion   A filly trained by David Hayes,   ridden by Gerald Mosse and who won the Hong Kong Derby the previous month - only the second of her sex to do so. She relegated multiple international Group One place-getter Paolini  into third and earned points in the World Series.

Third Paolini Some said over-racing had taken a toll on this world-class galloper.

2004

Winner River Dancer   Owned by then Jockey Club chairman Ronald Arculli,  this horse became an upset winner and scored for trainer John Size  and jockey Glyn Schofield  at odds of 57-1.

Second Elegant Fashion   Finishing runner-up for the second year,  the mare still earned praise from David Hayes.

Some blamed the mare's well-publicised foot abscess burst eight days before, but Hayes simply said River Dancer, who had raced against Elegant Fashion a few times before but never in the front, had the condition to win on the day.

Third Scott's View   This British galloper did best of the four international visitors, ridden by  Stanley Chin Kin-ming  who was making a high-profile but one-day return to Hong Kong racing.

2005

Winner Vengeance Of Rain   Hong Kong conducted a successful hometown defence of  the Cup when this local darling, also a Derby winner, secured a victory for trainer David Ferraris  and jockey Anthony Delpech. He  later went on to become the 2005 World Racing Champion, after landing a further Group One in the Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Cup in December.

Second Greys Inn   Like the winner, this South African galloper is a son of New Zealand's champion sire Zabeel.  Handled by Weichong Marwing  for trainer Mike de Kock.

Third Russian Pearl  Owned by businessman Gary Kam Shing-kan  and described by trainer Tony Cruz  as being like 'a Mini Cooper with a Porsche engine', this local Hong Kong Cup hero and Stewards' Cup winner gave a fine performance but finished third. He had not come out of his race well, later being diagnosed with a damaged tendon and having to rest for a season.

2006

Winner Irridescence  This athletic  South African filly, owned by American international racing syndicate Team Valour,  was leading throughout the race and gained a victory for trainer  De Kock. She became a dual hemisphere Group One winner, with potential to rise  in value after a summer campaign in Europe.

Second Best Gift  This British star, although running second, gave  his best performance yet in this race. He is  returning for this  year's race after a long spell recovering from a suspensory ligament damage.

Third Ouija Board The 2004 British Horse of the Year and heroine of the Hong Kong Vase in December 2005 was one of the world's great middle-distance racers. Ridden by Frankie  Dettori,  she was slowly away, held at a vital stage and rushed home late to go down  in a three-way photo. Many believe she would have won with a trouble-free run.



Thumbs up to past glory