Defending champion Time Warp came into he race on the back of a plain effort in the Jockey Club Cup, where he tailed off to finish last. Renown as a horse who needs to get his own way in front, Time Warp was taken on in that race by his full brother Glorious Forever, who spent last season coming coming through the grades with the same race style as his older sibling. They went at each other hammer and tong three weeks ago, and it didn’t pan out well for either of them as they set the race up for the closers.

So tactics were going to play a big part here, would either relent and let the other take a lead? The talk was that the Frankie Lor trained Glorious Forever might let big brother go this time, however with him drawing barrier one and Time Warp out wide the scenario set up well for Glorious Forever. The first 150 metres to the first turn were going to be very interesting and so it proved.

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Silvestre de Sousa pushed on from gate one, with Zac Purton on Time Warp looming to his outside. Purton decided to ease as they approached the turn, and from there it was more or less a procession. They clocked a pedestrian 50.56 for the first 800m, and high class animals like these take some passing when they have it that easy on the front.

Try as he might Time Warp could not pass his younger brother in the straight, at one stage he got to within a half length, but Glorious Forever was able to kick clear again late. The main challenge came from he Japanese mare Deirdre, who was really the only one to make ground in the run home.

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On tactics, trainer Lor said “I talked to Silvestre yesterday and said ‘if he jumped good try to take the lead and if Time Warp pushed too hard then he could take the sit behind him’. We drew one and Time Warp seven so that made a difference”. 

“Everything was in my favour,” de Sousa said, “the draw was perfect for riding a horse who could be one or two in the run. Everything went to the plan.

“I didn’t want to overdo it in front but to make sure Time Warp didn’t come around, I had to make sure we were going a true gallop. I won the battle for the first 300 metres and I was going so well at the 800 (metres), I thought to myself they would have to be very good to pick him up; it would have to be one of the  Europeans because I didn’t think  Time Warp would come again.”

Christophe Lemaire said of second place Deirdre “She ran very good. It was a good pace and she was very relaxed all the way around. She picked up very well and has a long acceleration, giving all at the finish. Well done to the winner as he made the running and never gave up. The best horse won today.”

It was a remarkable day for Lor, winning two of the big four races in his second season “This is special. Yes today is amazing for me, I can’t believe it. For me, it’s my dream to get more good horses and win the big races and to win these two races today is amazing,” Lor said.

Thanks to the HKJC team for quotes from connections.