HK DEC 8 – GLORIOUS DAYS GIVES JOHN SIZE HIS FIRST HK INTERNATIONAL RACE WINNER

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

Despite what appeared ferocious opposition from Europe – and indeed Hong Kong – it was the John Size-trained, Douglas Whyte-ridden Glorious Days who produced some sensational acceleration up the Sha Tin straight to win the G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Mile.

The victory maintained the stranglehold of the local milers on this great prize – the Mile has now stayed in Hong Kong for the last eight years – but extraordinarily it was a first win in the LONGINES Hong Kong International Races for Size despite his huge reputation and his seven trainers’ championships.

“These races have escaped me in the past but it’s sweet now it has happened,” said Size.

Despite the fact that Glorious Days was having his first start of the season, his first-up record had read 1st, 1st and 2nd, and yet again he arrived off a break in terrific shape. Plenty of horseplayers latched on to him and got the job done in 1m 33.6 seconds.

Size said: “He’s an easy horse to train, and I just left him alone when he wasn’t right earlier in the year. But about six weeks ago he started to tell us that he would be ready to compete at this International race meeting, and we’ve been getting more and more confident since then.”

Whyte certainly was always happy in the race itself. “We were always pretty comfortable. Once we went past Moonlight Cloud I just needed to keep his momentum up,” said the 13-time Hong Kong champion jockey.

Three-quarters of a length back in second was the favourite Gold-Fun. After a positive ride, he looked likely to strike for Richard Gibson and Olivier Doleuze, skipping clear in the straight. But it was Size’s miler whose late surge proved decisive.

Another three-quarters of a length back in third was Packing Whiz with Gordon Lord Byron doing best of the Europeans in fourth, the same position as he filled last year.

The bitter disappointment was the brilliant French-trained mare Moonlight Cloud. Into the straight, she looked to be moving into the type of position that has so often led to outstanding G1 victories.

She was alongside the less fancied Glorious Days, but it was the John Size-trained Hong Kong miler who instead quickened up in sensational style with Moonlight Cloud just lacking her usual gears.

The mare’s rider Thierry Jarnet told disappointed owner George Strawbridge. “I’m sorry. She didn’t relax today. She wasn’t herself, and the ground was plenty quick enough.”

However she did better than Europe’s other high profile runner Sky Lantern, attempting to give her great British trainer Richard Hannon a winning Group 1 send-off.

She was in trouble a long way from home and finished last of the 14 starters.

POST RACE COMMENTS:

1st - Glorious Days – Douglas Whyte, jockey.
“He was travelling pretty comfortably. I just hoped that he could produce what he’s capable of. I was alongside Moonlight Cloud and my horse then quickened up quite brilliantly. I just needed to keep his momentum going.”

2nd - Gold-Fun – Olivier Doleuze, jockey.
“I’m very happy with my horse, we had a good trip and we had every chance to win it. There’s nothing to be ashamed about being beaten by Glorious Days who is almost as good as Ambitious Dragon on his day. We were second but I am very proud of my horse.”

3rd - Packing Whiz – Brett Prebble, jockey.
“He ran super – he had plenty of ground to make up. It was only his second run and he’ll come on for that. We can expect more from him in the future.”

4th - Gordon Lord Byron – William Buick, jockey.
“He was a little unlucky. He really finished off and if we get a split a touch sooner I think he might have run second.”

5th - Real Specialist – Tye Angland, jockey.
“We got a good run through the race and came into it at the right time, he’s probably just not quite strong enough yet.”

6th - Moonlight Cloud – Thierry Jarnet, jockey.
“She simply didn’t relax today. She didn’t settle. She wasn’t herself and the ground was plenty firm enough for her.”

7th - Helene Spirit – Gerald Mosse, jockey.
“He had his chance but we were running along quite fast, which told in the end.”

8th – Dan Excel – Weichong Marwing, jockey.
“He ran a great race to a point but he might have been just that one race away from winning one like this.”

9th - Xtension – Zac Purton, jockey.
“Disappointing. We had a nice run, following the winner through and he just didn’t finish off.”

10th - Pure Champion – Umberto Rispoli, jockey.
“I had a beautiful race. I was just behind the pace but when they kicked it was just strong for him today.”

11th – Shamalgan – Maxime Guyon, jockey.
“It was a good race but it was a little bit too hot for him. The winner had a good turn of foot and my horse was one-paced.”

12th - King Kreesa – Mike Smith, jockey.
“It just didn’t go for him today. The further they went the higher he had his head up in the air.”

13th - Linton – Damien Oliver, jockey.
”He just didn’t fire today. He was well below his best and didn’t kick like he can when he’s at his best.”

14th - Sky Lantern – Richard Hughes, jockey.
“Disappointing. She ran very flat today and I don’t know why. I was very tender on her. I didn’t want to hurt her.”

STEWARDS REPORT:

XTENSION was crowded for room on jumping between GLORIOUS DAYS and KING KREESA which shifted out. After this, XTENSION was then taken across behind runners. From the outside barrier, SHAMALGAN was taken across behind runners shortly after the start.

Passing the 1500m, GORDON LORD BYRON momentarily raced tight between REAL SPECIALIST and HELENE SPIRIT which was awkwardly placed inside the heels of DAN EXCEL which was racing tight inside the heels of GOLD-FUN.

Passing the 1400m, REAL SPECIALIST momentarily raced in restricted room between PURE CHAMPION which got its head on the side and proved difficult to settle and GOLD-FUN which shifted in.

After the 1400m, GORDON LORD BYRON commenced to prove very difficult to settle and shifted out after being awkwardly placed close to the heels of REAL SPECIALIST. GORDON LORD BYRON then continued to prove difficult to settle and near the 1300 Metres was steadied when racing tight between REAL SPECIALIST and MOONLIGHT CLOUD.

After the 900 Metres, MOONLIGHT CLOUD was left racing wide and without cover.

GLORIOUS DAYS lost its right hind plate near the 600m.

Rounding the Home Turn, PACKING WHIZ was awkwardly placed close to the heels of GORDON LORD BYRON. Passing the 350m, MOONLIGHT CLOUD and GLORIOUS DAYS bumped.

KING KREESA became unbalanced when giving ground near the 200 Metres. In this incident, KING KREESA shifted in and bumped the hindquarters of PURE CHAMPION which became unbalanced.

After the 200m, GORDON LORD BYRON briefly raced in restricted room when improving into tight running between DAN EXCEL and REAL SPECIALIST.

When questioned regarding the disappointing performance of SKY LANTERN, R Hughes stated that he was able to obtain a good position in the run behind MOONLIGHT CLOUD. He said he became concerned that SKY LANTERN was not improving into the race as he anticipated it would after the 600m.

He said he placed SKY LANTERN under pressure to maintain its position behind MOONLIGHT CLOUD, however, in the early part of the straight SKY LANTERN came under extreme pressure and shortened stride. He added he rode SKY LANTERN out to the end of the race hands and heels, however, the filly was very disappointing.

A veterinary inspection of SKY LANTERN immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. GLORIOUS DAYS and GOLD-FUN were sent for sampling.

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