On face value you look at the result of the 2018 Sprint, the result being the same as the 2017 version, you’d think not a lot has changed. While the horses may not have, plenty else has. Winner Mr Stunning was surprisingly moved from the John Size stable, to rookie trainer Frankie Lor Fu-chuen. Karis Teetan also committed to Mr Stunning at the time and while he had other options arise, chose to stick with the son of Exceed and Excel. 

D B Pin kicked on form the 2017 Sprint and won the Centenary Sprint Cup in January this year, looking at that stage as if he might seal himself as Hong Kong’s pre-eminent sprinter. However a tendon injury led to an enforced spell and he was entering this race second up off the break. A new hoop was also engaged this season, with Sam Clipperton taking the ride.

Race favourite Hot king Prawn was expected to lead from his wide gate, and that he did. It gave Teetan the perfect cart across to take a trailing position and from there it always looked likely that Mr stunning would win. D B Pin did give some cheek in the run home, but perhaps his condition gave on him in the final stages.

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Teetan, riding his first HKIR winner in said “He had a lovely trip through the race and I’m just so happy. It’s incredible. I’ve never felt like this. It’s the first time I’ve heard the crowd shouting like this. I just knew when I pressed the button he was going to go. He felt different today, felt so good,”.

“When Ivictory went forward to put some pressure on Hot King Prawn, I was pretty happy about that. My horse never travels too hard in a race but he was really so relaxed underneath me today,”

Trainer Lor, was also tasting G1 success for the first time and was understandably excited “I’m very happy,” Lor said, “Karis did a great job out there. It took me a long time to get a trainer’s licence so I need to try my best to keep going and train more Group 1 winners. I think John (Size) might also be happy because I worked for him and he was a great boss.”

On the runner-up, Sam Clipperton “I just needed that luck and unfortunately, the luck enabled Karis to get a neck start on me and my horse is just held to the line. Well done to Karis, he deserves that win, he works bloody hard. I am very proud of my horse and he has run a cracker only second up,”.