HK DEC 8 – LORD KANALOA SCORES SECOND SUCCESSIVE WIN IN THE LONGINES HONG KONG SPRINT

By Hong Kong Jockey Club | Sunday, December 8, 2013

Lord Kanaloa and Yasunari Iwata overcame an unhelpful draw in Gate 12 to simply destroy his rivals in scintillating style in the LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint, coming away in the straight to put five lengths between himself and his toiling pursuers.

In doing so he was taking the race for the second year in succession, and at the same time he surely established himself as the best sprinter in the world.

Lord Kanaloa broke alertly and was able to get a position in about sixth place three wide going into the turn, as Rich Tapestry cut out the running.

Always travelling well, Lord Kanaloa quickened up in devastating style and put the race to bed in a matter of strides once Iwata asked him to go and win his race.

The further he went the more his winning margin increased, and he was five lengths to the good easing down at the line, stopping the clock in 1m 08.25s.

From a long way out there was only ever one horse in it.

His delighted jockey Yasunari Iwata said: “This was the best performance of his career, and I could feel him ready to unleash his run on the home turn. Maybe he knew it was his final race.

“Once the gates opened he was just brilliant today. It’s a great day for us to show what a wonderful horse he is, and to win this for a second time in front of his many race fans in Hong Kong.”

Winning trainer Takayuki Yasuda said of his champion: “It’s wonderful to win for a second time here, especially as it is his last race.

“I look forward to training his offspring, and I hope one day I have one good enough to bring back here.

"He’s a champion and I don’t care about his rating of 120, that’s not so important in Japan. Today I think he ran probably to 125.”

Sole Power and Johnny Murtagh did best of the rest in second, while Frederick Engels took third under Zac Purton for trainer John Moore.

Murtagh said: “He’s run another great race for me. He’s more used to straight tracks at home, and he’s not the best turning horse around a bend. But he gave everything, and the winner is obviously pretty special.”

The British raider Jwala came down in the straight and suffered a fatal injury. Her jockey Steve Drowne was conscious but taken to hospital for further examination.

POST RACE COMMENTS:

1st - Lord Kanaloa - Yasunari Iwata, jockey.
“This is the best performance of his career and I could feel him ready to unleash on the home turn. Maybe he knew it was his final race. Once the gates opened, his engine was just brilliant today.”

2nd – Sole Power - Johnny Murtagh, jockey.
“That was a huge run. He’s used to running on straight tracks at home and he’s not the best turning horse in the world and he didn’t come around the bend well here……but it was still a great run. The winner is something special.”

3rd – Frederick Engels – Zac Purton, jockey.
“We had a perfect run and we did have every chance but the winner was just in a different league. The horse did his best.”

4th – Cerise Cherry – Matthew Chadwick, jockey.
“I stuck to the rail waiting for some luck in the stretch and unfortunately it came too late. He did find the line.”

5th - Sterling City – Tommy Berry, jockey.
“Great run, drawing inside’s just not his go. Didn’t really get a crack at them. Should have run second.”

6th – Rich Tapestry – Ryan Moore, jockey.
“He ran well but he wasn’t quite good enough and the winner must be some machine.”

7th - Lucky Nine – Brett Prebble, jockey.
“He was slow out again and that’s a big minus in these sort of races.”

8th - Time After Time – Gerald Mosse, jockey.
“He needed one to cart him into the race. He was OK.”

9th - Go Baby Go – Tye Angland, jockey.
“The wide draw and a tough 1200 metres against this class set him a task. Wasn’t disgraced.”

10th – Slade Power – Wayne Lordan, jockey.
“We went to follow the winner but we were caught a little wide. We’re really happy with him and he can go on.”

11th - Charles The Great – Douglas Whyte, jockey.
“We couldn’t get into a position and that was the end for him.”

12th - Eagle Regiment – Olivier Doleuze, jockey.
“He ran OK but he just doesn’t get around these bends. He had the inside gate last time when he ran well but no such luck today. Back to the 1000 (metres) for him.’

13th - Joy And Fun – Brett Doyle, jockey.
“He travelled well and ran nicely for me but it was over when that horse fell in front of me.”

STEWARDS REPORT:

As the start was effected, LUCKY NINE bounded in the air and consequently lost ground. SOLE POWER began awkwardly. TIME AFTER TIME was slow to begin.

Near the 1000m, SOLE POWER, which was proving very difficult to settle and was being steadied to obtain cover, got its head up when awkwardly placed close to the heels of LORD KANALOA (Y Iwata) which shifted in when only just clear. Y Iwata was advised to ensure that he provides sufficient clearance when shifting ground.

After this, SOLE POWER continued to prove difficult to settle and again got its head up on a number of occasions.

For some distance after the 1000m, CHARLES THE GREAT proved very difficult to settle and got its head up on a number of occasions when being checked away from the heels of GO BABY GO.

Near the 900m, EAGLE REGIMENT got its head up when awkwardly placed close to the heels of LORD KANALOA and then rounding the first turn near the 850m got its head on the side and hung out after being brushed by FREDERICK ENGELS which, when proving difficult to settle and awkwardly placed close to the heels of CHARLES THE GREAT, shifted out.

EAGLE REGIMENT continued to hang out and passing the 700m was awkwardly placed close to the heels of SLADE POWER.

TIME AFTER TIME was held up for clear running in the early part of the straight.

Near the 350m EAGLE REGIMENT raced in restricted room between SOLE POWER and FREDERICK ENGELS which shifted out slightly when held up for clear running and awkwardly placed behind LORD KANALOA.

LUCKY NINE was badly held up for clear running until near the 200m.

The Stewards opened an inquiry into the reason for JWALA (S Drowne) falling near the 50m.

After taking evidence from B Prebble (LUCKY NINE), W Lordan (SLADE POWER), J Murtagh (SOLE POWER), D Whyte (CHARLES THE GREAT), R Moore (RICH TAPESTRY) and T Angland (GO BABY GO), the inquiry was adjourned until a date to be fixed as evidence was not able to be taken from S Drowne who was transported to hospital.

When JWALA fell, JOY AND FUN, which was following, was badly hampered and blundered, resulting in its rider, B Doyle, almost being dislodged.

Over the concluding stages, STERLING CITY, which had been having difficulty obtaining clear running, raced in restricted room between CERISE CHERRY and RICH TAPESTRY.

Close to the finishing line, RICH TAPESTRY was shifted out to relieve the tightening to STERLING CITY and CERISE CHERRY and because of this was not able to be ridden out to the end of the race.

Also close to the finishing line, CERISE CHERRY became unbalanced after being bumped on the hindquarters by STERLING CITY.

CHARLES THE GREAT was unable to obtain clear running at any stage in the straight and consequently was not able to be tested.

Throughout the race, SLADE POWER and JWALA travelled wide and without cover. LORD KANALOA and SOLE POWER were sent for sampling.

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