Sunday, April 25, 2004

River Dancer stuns Sha Tin to take Audemars Piguet QEII Cup

Champion trainer Size had been playing down his horse's chances all week in the belief that River Dancer needed softer underfoot conditions to be seen at his best with the result that River Dancer was ignored by punters and allowed to start as the second least bet horse in the field.

But he belied those odds with a courageous display that saw him outstay the near 4/1 second favourite, Elegant Fashion, who again filled second spot in this race for the second year in a row.

The English challenger Scott's View, trained by Mark Johnston and ridden by Stanley Chin finished strongly in the straight to be a short head back in third ahead of another of the locally-trained horses, Bowman's Crossing.

The South African challenger, Right Approach, finished in fifth, ahead of the disappointing recent Mercedes-Benz Hong Kong Derby winner, Lucky Owners, who was sent off at odds of 6-5 favourite, but never looked likely to take a hand in the finish. The other international challengers Sarafan and Paolini also turned in dull efforts from their wide draws, finishing 12th and 13th respectively.

Schofield had River Dancer settled in mid division about six lengths behind the pacesetter Saturn, then improved his position at the head of the straight, before taking up the running about a furlong from home, and holding off the challenge of Gerald Mosse and Elegant Fashion.

River Dancer, who formerly raced as Diaghilev in Ireland for Aidan O'Brien, was making his 21st start in Hong Kong, and winning for only the second time. This afternoon's win more than doubled his prize-money earnings to a little over HK$14 million.

Afterwards his delighted trainer said: "Today he appreciated the fast tempo of the race, and Glyn [Schofield] gave him a great ride. This is my first international win in Hong Kong. It's a special day."

Schofield said: "He was always travelling well, and it was the first time there has been speed on for him. I had a lot of horse underneath me rounding the corner and I made my move about 350m out. He's a good honest horse and I knew he would keep finding for me, which he did."

A delighted HKJC Chairman Ronald Arculli said connections would mull over plans for River Dancer when they saw how he came out of the race, but he did not rule out the possibility of a tilt at the Singapore Airlines International Cup at Kranji in May, the second leg of the World Series Racing Championship, for which Elegant Fashion is another possible
contender.

David Hayes, trainer of the gallant runner-up, said: "She's the bridesmaid again. I'm very happy with her run but it's extraordinary. She must have run against River Dancer about ten times and he has never beaten her before today."

River Dancer was the first home-trained winner of this race since 2000.

"This result underlines the continued increase in the quality of Hong Kong horses on the international stage. It proves that our recent wins have not been flukes and it is one of the reasons why only a few international horses travel here for the race. They know it is very hard to win here," said HKJC Executive Director of Racing, Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges.

Incomparable Silent Witness sets a new standard

And, on the subject of earnings and new records, the win took trainer Tony Cruz to a new record for prize-money earnings of over $83 million - a phenomenal achievement with still 16 meetings of the season left.

If in racing there is no such thing as a certainty, then how do you categorise a horse that routinely starts at the minimum 1/10 favourite and always wins comfortably?

Rival trainer David Hayes has his own label for the El Moxie gelding, the world's leading older turf sprinter: "He's a freak, a genuine freak. We can't beat him. Can't even get close," Hayes said.

But racing thrives on its champions and the 40,000 plus present at Sha Tin knew they probably will never see one like him again.

Today's race panned out almost identically to the preceding ten. Back over 1200m for the first time in seven starts, the champion toyed with a top field. He broke cleanly, made the running and entered the home straight with ears pricked. Challengers presented themselves but they were left clutching at thin air as jockey Felix Coetzee only needed to shake the reins at the
champion, who won eased down.

The margin was two and a quarter lengths back to Cape Of Good Hope, with former Horse of the Year, Electronic Unicorn, making a very pleasing return to the track after a year's absence filling third place.

"I was confident it was his race. If Felix had ridden him all the way he could have broken the track record. He could stretch to 1400m without a problem but there are so many big 1000m races here it makes sense to keep him to the sprints," trainer Cruz later said.

With the record broken, what next for the world's leading older turf sprinter?

"He'll have an early summer. He won't be going to Royal Ascot," said owner Archie da Silva. "We are undecided about the Sprinters' Stakes in Japan on October 3 because there might be no lead-up race here for him. We'll take a look at the programme first. But he's a Hong Kong horse and as you can see the public love him. Wherever he races, Hong Kong interests will come first."

American Post in to 6/1 from 8/1 following impressive display

"He did it nicely and connections would have every right to be confident. We all know the horse will travel well having won at Doncaster last seaso so he will certainly give Yeats' connections something to think about," said Balthazar Fabricius of Ladbrokes.

Vodafone Derby
1m 4f, Epsom, 5th June 2004
7/2 Yeats, 6 (from 8) American Post, 10 Salford City, 10 Snow Ridge, 12 Bago, 12 Bull Run, 14 Grey Swallow, 16 (from 20) Ecomium, 16 Magritte, 20 One Cool Cat, 20 Wolfe Tone, 25 Cobra, 25 Haafhd, 25 Mikado, 33 Andean, 33 Azamour, 33 Bayeux, 33 Duke Of Venice, 33 Five Dynasties, 33 Imperial Stride, 33 Lucky Story, 33 North Light, 40 Ace, 40 Acropolis, 40 Almuraad, 40 Always First, 40 Anchor, 40 Antonius Pius, 40 Blue Monday, 40 Book Of
Kings, 40 Buena Vista, 40 Eden Rock, 40 Elshadi, 40 Go For Gold, 40 Let The Lion Roar, 40 Matloob, 40 Millemix, 40 Moscow Ballet, 40 Mullins Bay, 40 Napoleon, 40 Pearl Of Love, 40 Percussionist, 40 Roehampton, 40 Sussex, 50 Akarem, 50 Art Trader, 50 Asaeeif, 50 Birkspiel, 50 Cairdeas, 50 Capped For Victory, 50 Dalayan, 50 Destination Dubai, 50 Dubai Ace, 50 Ebaziyan, 50 Elmustanser, 50 Emirates Flyer, 50 Gironde, 50 Haadef, 50 Into The Dark, 50 King Hesperus, 50 Leiceste, Square, 50 Magnetic Pole, 50 Master William, 50
Meath, 50 Mister Monet, 50 Monaser, 50 Mutahayya, 50 News Sky, 50 Notable Guest, 50 Ovation, 50 Parliament Square, 50 Peer Gynt, 50 Rinjani, 50 Rule Of Law, 50 Sabbeeh, 50 Sheikhman, 50 Shirocco, 50 Silver Silence, 50 Skidmark, 50 Strike, 50 The Mighty Tiger, 50 Troubadour, 50 Tycoon, 50 Zaiyad. 66 Bar (1/4 Odds 1,2,3)


4/1 for Pipe repeat treble


Ladbrokes is quoting 4/1 that connections of Martin Pipe's Pond House yard can secure the Top Trainer, Top Owner and Top Jockey titles for the 2004/5 National Hunt season.

"We took on Martin Pipe to our cost last season with our view on the trainers' championship and our customers seem to think that his dominant reign is far from over," said Balthazar Fabricius of Ladbrokes.

National Hunt 2004/5 Season Special
4/1 M C Pipe Top Trainer (win and place prize money), A P McCoy Top Jockey (winners), D A Johnson Top Owner (win and place prize money)


National Hunt Trainers' Championship 2004/5 (25th April 2004 to 23rd April 2005)
5/4 Paul Nicholls, 5/4 Martin Pipe, 5/1 Jonjo O'Neill, 16/1 Philip Hobbs, 25/1 Nicky Henderson, 40/1 Venetia Williams, 50/1 Henrietta Knight, 50 Twiston-Davies (Win Only) Others on request


Ultimatebet.com 2000 Guineas
1m, Newmarket, Sat 1st May 2004
2 One Cool Cat, 4 Salford City, 5 Haafhd, 7 Grey Swallow, 8 Whipper, 9 Snow Ridge, 20 Azamour, 20 Three Valleys, 25 Iqte Saab, 28 Milk It Mick, 33 Bachelor Duke, 33 (from 50) Fantastic View, 33 Grand Reward, 33 Peak To Creek, 50 Bayeux, 50 Byron, 50 Newton, 50 Rosencrans, 66 Barbajuan, 66 Carrizo Creek, 66 Duke Of Venice, 66 Golden Sahara, 66 Tumblebrutus, 100 Sgt Pepper, 150 Glaramara, 150 Mahmoom (1/4 Odds 1,2,3)

Ultimatebet.com 1000 Guineas
1m, Newmarket, Sun 2nd May 2004
4 Red Bloom, 6 Attraction, 6 Majestic Desert, 10 Carry On Katie, 12 Phantom Wind, 14 Hathrah, 14 Secret Charm, 14 Sundrop, 16 Necklace, 20 Cairns, 20 Punctilious, 25 Spotlight, 25 Kinnaird, 33 Incheni, 33 Kisses For Me, 33 Nataliya, 40 Green Swallow, 40 Pearl Grey, 50 Ulfah, 50 Kelucia, 50 Maroochydore, 50 Red Feather, 66 Jath, 100 Valjarv, 100 Nephetriti Way, 150 Milly Waters, 500 Flame Queen (1/4 Odds 1,2,3)


Vodafone Oaks
1m 4f, Epsom, 4th June 2004
14 All Too Beautiful, 14 Sundrop, 16 Necklace, 20 Esneh, 20 Green Swallow, 20 Red Bloom, 25 Bowstring, 25 Hathrah, 20 Poise, 25 Punctilious, 33 Australie, 33 Because, 33 Bradamante, 33 Deraasaat, 33 Incheni, 33 Kisses For Me, 33 Lisieux Orchid, 33 Opera Comique, 33 Proud Tradition, 33 Qasirah, 33 Queen, 33 Quiff, 33 Rave Reviews, 33 Sahool, 33 Tamarillo, 33 Treasure The Lady, 33 Tree Chopper, 33 Unavailable, 33 Well Known, 40 Bar (1/4 Odds 1,2,3)

Flat Jockeys' Championship
25th March - 6th November 2004 (includes AW during this period)
4/7 K Fallon, 5/2 D Holland, 5 L Dettori, 20 R Hughes, 20 S Sanders, 25 J P Murtagh, 25 J Spencer, 25 K Darley, 33 E Ahern, 33 K McEvoy (Win Only) Others on request

For old articles (from 1st March 2000) go to the Newslink Archive

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