Racing: Raider takes HK Cup glory

Yutaka Take salutes the crowd after winning the Hong Kong Cup on A Shin Hikari. Photo / Hong Kong Jockey Club

Well-fancied Criterion slow away and track proves too firm for Sir Owen Glenn’s star.

Despite a record of eight wins from 10 starts, Japanese invader A Shin Hikari had his doubters in the HK$25 million Hong Kong Cup on Sunday night.

But the handsome raider thumbed his nose at his long odds by turning in one of the most magnificent Cup wins on record.

Ridden by Japan star Yutaka Take, A Shin Hiraki got away with a cheap opening 400m sectional then poured on the pressure clear in the lead to run the remaining race in 400m sectionals in sensational times of 23.47, 23.75, 23.59 and the final 400m in 23.62 despite Take easing him down late.

The tempo gave back runners no chance at all.

Well-fancied Criterion, owned by Sir Owen Glenn, settled back and stayed there.

"It didn't help," said rider Craig Williams, "that he was slow away for a change and probably the track was a bit firm for him."

The tempo was so strong that Damien Oliver, on fifth-placed Lucia Valentino, said: "She ran enormous. I reckon she'd have won eight out of 10 group one races in Australia on that performance."

What the jockeys said ...

Hong Kong Cup

• 1st - A Shin Hikari - Yutaka Take: "The horse was in very good condition so I had much confidence going into the race. The horse sometimes has a difficult temperament, but he's in good form so I thought he had a very good chance. Travelling to Hong Kong will be very suitable for him in the future."

• 2nd - Nuovo Record - Ryan Moore: "Very pleased with her, she ran a cracker. The other one was just too good on the day. She came here with a rating of 112 and that's just wrong. She was underrated."

• 3rd - Blazing Speed - Neil Callan: "He got a nice position and I was happy where I was because if I'd had to lay up any closer I'd have been pushing him. For Blazing Speed to have to be niggled along - the pace was pretty strong. He was well-balanced, he went into a nice rhythm and when I came off the corner I thought the race was mine for the taking. I was waiting for the one to stop in front but it actually went a length again, so fair dos to the winner. But my horse has run an incredible race."

• 4th - Designs On Rome - Joao Moreira: "I was very happy with the horse's run. They went a very strong pace and he tends to get back early and was well back again but finished very strongly. I was delighted with his effort."

• 5th - Lucia Valentina - Damien Oliver: "She ran enormous. She'd have won eight out of 10 Group 1 races in Australia on that performance."

• 6th - Military Attack - Zac Purton: "No excuses. We all just got run into the ground. That was some performance from the winner."

• 7th - Dan Excel - Hugh Bowman: "I had the run of the race, just didn't have the horse. He ran to his best. He found the class a bit strong but he's a Hong Kong horse, the class is going to drop off and when it does he'll start winning."

• 8th - Beauty Only - Gerald Mosse: "I think he was too young and soft for a tough race like that. We went flat out all the way and I got a beautiful run but had no horse at the end."

• 9th - Criterion - Craig Williams: "He missed the start, never really got into it and the track might have been a bit firm for him."

• 10th - Staphanos - Keita Tosaki: "The horse was in good form but I could not get an inside position so it was a bit tough for him."

• 11th - Satono Aladdin - James McDonald: "He travelled really well but struggled to stay in touch with the leaders. The race was dominated up front. It was tough to get into it."

• 12th - Free Port Lux - Thierry Jarnet: "They went too quick for him, and the ground was maybe a bit too lively for him. I think he is better with a little more give in the ground. This was a very good race."

• 13th - Free Eagle - Pat Smullen: "I think the travel to Hong Kong must have taken a lot out of him. He had a lovely position but once we straightened up he flattened out very quickly. He did not show the turn of foot we know he has."