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Horse Racing, Photography, Travel

Masami Matsuoka

Hong Kong Cup 2019

This did not appear to be the strongest edition of the Cup, however it was an even race with no clear standout. Japan’s Win Bright was back to try and repeat his FWD QEII Cup success, Magic Wand was representing the Ballydoyle operation after securing her first G1 success in the Mackinnon Stakes in Melbourne last month. The home team were hoping for Derby winner Furore and the up and coming Rise High, ridden by Vincent Ho to fly the Hong Kong flag.

As expected the brothers Time Warp and Glorious Forever set the pace, with Magic Wand settling in behind, with Win Bright on her outer. Furore was further back, with Rise High in front of him. As they turned for home Time Warp and Glorious Forever were challenged and soon folded. Rise High momentarily hit the front, but Win Bright kept coming and took the lead. Neither Ryan Moore on Magic Wand or Hugh Bowman on Furore will remember the run home fondly, both finding trouble impeding their progress. Magic Wand switched inside, but it was too late, Win Bright held her out to take a great Sha Tin double for 2019.

  • HKIR Race Day 2019 – 8/12/19 Hong Kong Cup winner Win Bright, ridden by Masami Matsuoka, trained by Yoshihiro Hatekeyama

“It went the way we were expecting,” jockey Masami Matsuoka said. “I thought the pace would be slow so I wanted to sit third or fourth. I was very happy it all went to plan. We perhaps made our move maybe a bit early as we were carrying plenty of speed into the straight. This is great because his last two starts have not been satisfactory. The horse has been improving all week since he got here. We had a memorable day in April and it is special to come back.”

Trainer Yoshihiro Hatekeyama said “After his summer break he couldn’t get into top condition. His last two runs were below what I expected but he began to improve straight after the Tenno Sho Autumn and we always wanted to come here if we got the invite. 

“He was in really good shape by the time he left Japan and that is why we were able to follow the same routine here as when we came in April.

“Tactically the race went exactly to plan. We wanted to sit handy. At the first bend he tried to tuck in and perhaps put a little pressure to the others. He came home really well in the straight.”

Thanks to the HKJC team for all the quotes!

FWD QEII Cup

Time Warp and his brother Glorious Forever have some sort of sibling rivalry going on. They are both Hong Kong Cup winners, both achieving it with an all the way win. However when racing together the rivalry can be to their own detriment as they fight for the lead. On this occasion it lead to the QEII being run at a frantic pace throughout. They set up a course record time, with the 1.59.00 mark being broken for the first time at Sha Tin, the winning time being 1.58.81.

Win Bright and Masami Matsuoka near the tail of the field first time past the post.

Of the three Japanese runners in the race, Win Bright was by far the least fancied, going about at 47/1. However no one told jockey Masami Matsuoka that, he weaved his way through the pack from the rear of the field in the straight to cross the line a clear winner, giving the crowd one of the best salutes Sha Tin has seen.

Matsuoka who had not had a G1 winner in 10 years was overjoyed. “This is the very best day!” he said. “He didn’t have good gate speed this time but we found a good spot and the horse travelled nicely and that helped him run very well to the finish.”

Win Bright had come into the race on the back of successive wins at G2 and G3 level, defeating a number of G1 winners in the Nakayama Kinen in February.

Trainer Yoshihiro Hatakeyama “He had won at Group 2 and Group 3 level but had always been beaten in Group 1 races, but his winning form from his two starts this season made me think that he was developing and improving,” he said.“I was quite sure that he would be competitive at the top level. I couldn’t be confident that he would win, of course, but I did think he would be very competitive.”

His form dipped last season and a planned trip to HKIR was abandoned for last December. The break has done wonders for Win Bright, who is now unbeaten in 2019. It’s great to see connections rewarded for patience and putting the interests of the horse foremost. Plans are afoot for him to return for HKIR 2019 “I hope he will gain more power and develop and we would love to come back in December for the Hong Kong Cup.” said Hatakeyama.

  • 28/4/19 Hong Kong Champions Day Sha Tin FWD QEII Cup winner Win Bright trained by Yoshihiro Hatakeyama, jockey Masami Matsuoka

Hong Kong Vase winner Exultant ran on from back in the field for second. “It wasn’t a perfect race and Zac (Purton) said if he’d had an inside draw it might have been a different story, but he’s run a very good race. I knew the Japanese were the ones to beat, they love coming here,” trainer Tony Cruz said.

Lys Gracieux finished alongside Exultant in the Vase and did the same here, with Oisin Murphy aboard this time. “I’m thrilled with her, I was very happy during the race and I thought I had a good run off the back of Dark Dream, when I switched out in the straight I thought she might be good enough to win,” he said. “Fair play to the other Japanese horse, Matsuoka saved ground the whole way and the horse was too good on the day. Hopefully one day she’ll get an elusive win here, but what a tough and consistent mare!”

Thanks to the HKJC team for quotes from connections.