With all respect to the winner Contentment, this race promised so much but delivered a sharp reminder to us all how unforgiving racing can be. Star 4yo Rapper Dragon was sent out a short priced favourite, never really looked comfortable early in the race settling back behind Beauty Only towards the rear of the small field. After hearing a loud crack at around the 800m point, he was pulled up by Joao Moreira. He was able to walk onto the horse ambulance, however was euthanised soon after as it became evident he would not recover from the fractured pelvis he suffered.

Contentment jumped well and took an early lead which he held through the first 600m, at which stage Stormy Antarctic who had not settled, was allowed to roll forward by Karis Teetan. As the tempo increased Rapper Dragon was shuffled back to last, then the crowd gasped as Moreira pulled him up, the horse clearly broken down.

As they turned for home Contentment (Brett Prebble) eased around the heals of the tiring Stormy Antarctic, but out wider Helene Paragon and Tommy Berry threw down their challenge. However he hit the front too soon and Contentment was in for the fight, as was Beauty Only (Zac Purton) who also launched a challenge from behind. As Helene Paragon faded on his run Contentment hit the front and was there at the line with Beauty Only closing quickly.

Zac Puton launched an objection against the winner for alleged interference at the 350m mark. The protest was eventually dismissed, “I was pretty confident,” Prebble said afterwards. “Zac didn’t stop riding.”

“The race didn’t go to plan, I was a little shuffled up around mid-race but that actually worked out well because he hasn’t had a bunny to chase for a while,” Prebble said. “When Helene Paragon shot to the front quite early, that gave him an extra bunny to guide him along and give him something to look at,” Prebble said. “He has a tendency to gaze around at things in the final stages – that’s why he had the blinkers on last time but they didn’t work out so the pacifiers were back on.

“When he got to the front today, he was waiting again and looking, and when Beauty Only came to him he dug deep again. He’s a quirky horse but he’s definitely got that performance there when he can give it to us – 100 percent of the credit goes to John; he’s a genius.”

Trainer John Size said “The track condition was the difference this afternoon. It just feels a little bit softer underfoot and that might have helped.” Next he is hoping to return to Japan for another crack at the Yasuda Kinen “After winning this race, I’m sure, if the owner’s agreeable, we’ll go to Japan,” Size said.

Helene Paragon held on for third, in a return to his form of earlier in the season. Tommy Berry said “I’d seen Beauty Only and Rapper Dragon were behind me so I thought, at the top of the straight, I’d steal a march,” he said. “I wasn’t worried about getting out early but I probably should have sat a little bit longer because he was found wanting late on. I’ve ridden him with a plan to beat the favourite and that’s got me beaten. He’s done a great job to run third.”

Unfortunately this race will be remembered for all the wrong reasons. Rapper Dragon has been the star of this season, the first horse to sweep the 4yo series and looked a genuine star of the future. Hong Kong is looking for it’s next star and appeared to have him here, alas we have lost him too soon. The Moore stable released a brief statement “Too distraught to talk. A dreadfully sad end to a champion’s brief career. He will go down in folklore as a crowd favourite that set such a high standard for others to dream of emulating. Our sincere thanks to Chris Riggs and his staff who did their utmost to save the champ.”

RIP Rapper Dragon.

Thanks to the HKJC for connections quotes.