Noble Conqueror shows why he's king of the Valley

The remaining career of outstanding Happy Valley galloper Noble Conqueror may lie in the hands of the Jockey Club after a brilliant second January Cup win last night left the gelding with no more peaks to climb at the track.

Taking his record to 10 wins from 20 starts at the course, Noble Conqueror (Brett Prebble) swooped around the field on the home turn with the fabulous turn of foot which has made him an institution at Happy Valley and raced clear to win in convincing style - his fourth successive win at the track.

'I just love this horse. If we were back in the days when all the races were run at Happy Valley - the Derby, the Gold Cup, everything was run here once - Noble Conqueror would be Hong Kong's champion racehorse,' lamented trainer Caspar Fownes, who knows that the eight-year-old's future might well be behind him now.

'I've only been able to run him here four times in the past two years so the opportunities now are just about over. I don't know what we can do. Perhaps I'll have to try stretching him out over longer distances at Sha Tin to see if we can get something out of him there but it's a shame.'

The hope for Fownes and the horse's connections is the recent promise of Jockey Club director of racing Bill Nader to show Happy Valley 'more respect' and reintroduce Group class racing next season.

'The club has to see this race tonight as a big success,' Fownes pointed out. 'You had Group One winners in Super Satin and Mr Medici coming here, and Super Pistachio ran second in the Derby last season. I mean this was a high-quality field and the trainers have shown we will come here if they put the races on.

'We race here every week, Happy Valley isn't going anywhere and I think it's right and fitting that there are quality races here. I would love to see a good sponsor come in for a series of Group races here - I'm sure it would be a hit with the fans.'