Run on the same say as the APQEII, this race is often Group quality in name only. The dearth of local stayers means it is often lacks any depth, stayers good enough often run in the feature. However this years edition was eagerly anticipated, with some even saying that it was a better race than the APQEII, not something I would have bought in to.

However the presence of a group of four year olds, who had come through their series was enough to have people talking up the prospects of the local staying ranks, not something you usually associate with Hong Kong. There were seven derby combatants going around in this. Last years Derby has only seen Werther fly the flag for that crop of ‘staying’ horse, he being in the QEII, and none from that race were in this.

There are not many opportunities for stayers here, so realistically many horses bought for the Derby are never going to be genuine staying types and those that are may not adapt to the Hong Kong environment. However there were several in this that had shown form over 2400m prior to coming to Hong Kong and their Derby runs indicated they’ed settled well enough. Eagle Way and Helen Charisma were Group 1 winners at the trip and Beauty Generation bought good form into the race. Gold Mount had won over 2400m prior to his arrival here and had shown enough to suggest he might go on with it.

Many staying races here are run at a leisurely tempo, however this was an exception. The pace was relentless throughout and led to a genuine staying test. Not surprisingly those who bought 2400m form to Hong Kong were prominent in the finish, with Eagle Way prevailing over Helene Charisma and Gold Mount. They covered the trip in 2m 25.48s which is the third-fastest time recorded for the 12 furlongs in Hong Kong’s history.

Joao Moreira rode Eagle Way for John Moore and said “He is a serious horse, a serious stayer. He has shown for weeks now that 2400m is his goal, and he showed that already when he won the Queensland Derby. Today, we saw the best of him so far in Hong Kong, but I think John can still improve him. He is fit, but I think that with John’s talent as a trainer, he can take the horse to the next level where he will be a Group 1-quality horse.”

Second placed Helene Charisma did not appear an easy ride for Douglas Whyte in the straight. Whyte said “I thought I was coming to win the race but Eagle Way dug down and found something when needed. A bit more juice in the track might have given us a different result but today he came to win the race and just held back a little bit, he didn’t let down. He was trying to hang in towards Joao.”

John Moore has made an art of declaring horses are bound for off-shore races, particularly the Melbourne spring, and nothing coming of it. He again said “They are the type of horses that could be Melbourne-bound because they’re dead-set mile-and-half to two-mile horses. Of the two that fought it out, it was a delight to watch – two very, very good stayers. I don’t want to jump the start but they’re ideal for Melbourne. The Hong Kong off-season doesn’t make it easy with lead-ups, but they are the sort of horses you’d want down there. They’re pretty decent!” My guess is both will be staying here to get ready for the December international races.

At only his third Hong Kong start, Gold Mount showed he has plenty to offer. He was impressive winning his first start and disappointing in the Derby, but bounced back here. Ridden by Silvestre de Sousa for Tony Cruz, “He ran a good race,” he said. “He was never travelling early on but he finished off well. If he’d been able to hold his spot early on, he would have been able to give them a fight, but it’s a step in the right direction.”

The final Group 1 race of the Hong Kong season now awaits many of these, where they will most likely encounter Werther, to test their credentials. It promises to be a genuinely interesting contest.

Thanks to the HKJC team for jockey and trainer quotes.