Japan Rules The Roost, Again, In Hong Kong

[Wandering Eyes]

by Alan Carasso

Twelve months after supplying three of the four winners of the Longines Hong Kong International, the six-strong team from Japan accounted for two of the Group 1 events Sunday at Sha Tin Racecourse, as Normcore (Jpn) (Harbinger {GB}) took out the G1 Longines Hong Kong Cup beneath substitute jockey Zac Purton and Danon Smash (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) followed in the hoofprints of his dual G1 Longines Hong Kong Sprint-winning sire with a rare foreign victory in the 1200-meter dash. Ryan Moore put a peach of a ride on Danon Smash one race after guiding Mogul (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) to a commanding defeat of Exultant (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) in the G1 Longines Hong Kong Vase. The locals did not leave empty-handed as Golden Sixty (Aus) (Medaglia d’Oro) turned in his customary stretch rally to blow away his rivals in the G1 Longines Hong Kong Mile, his 11th straight victory and 14th in 15 career outings. The Mile marked the end of the line for two-time winner and Horse of the Year Beauty Generation (NZ) (Road to Rock {Aus}), who is to be retired to Living Legends in Australia following a creditable fifth-place effort. Full reports of each of the four Longines Hong Kong International Races to follow.

Sunday, Sha Tin, Hong Kong
LONGINES HONG KONG CUP-G1, HK$28,000,000 (£2,719,596/€2,982,832/A$4,816,012/US$3,612,093), Sha Tin, 12-13, 3yo/up, 2000mT, 2:00.50, gd.
1–NORMCORE (JPN), 122, m, 5, by Harbinger (GB)
1st Dam: Chronologist (Jpn), by Kurofune
2nd Dam: In This Unison (Jpn), by Sunday Silence
3rd Dam: Rustic Belle, by Mr. Prospector
(¥22,000,000 Ylg ’16 JRHAJUL). O-Seiichi Iketani; B-Northern Racing; T-Kiyoshi Hagiwara; J-Zac Purton; HK$15,960,000. Lifetime Record: G1SW-Jpn, 17-7-1-3, HK$43,466,640. *1/2 to Chrono Genesis (Jpn) (Bago {Fr}), MG1SW-Jpn, $5,245,766. Werk Nick Rating: F. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Win Bright (Jpn), 126, h, 6, Stay Gold (Jpn)–Summer Eternity (Jpn), by Admire Cozzene (Jpn). O-Win Co. Ltd; B-Cosmo View Farm; T-Yoshihiro Hatekeyama; J-Masami Matsuoka; HK$6,160,000.
3–Magical (Ire), 122, m, 5, Galileo (Ire)–Halfway to Heaven (Ire), by Pivotal (GB). O-Derrick Smith, Mrs John Magnier & Michael Tabor; B-Orpendale, Chelston & Wynatt; T-Aidan O’Brien; J-Ryan Moore; HK$2,800,000.
Margins: 3/4, NO, 1 1/4. Odds: 9-1, 9-1, 19-10.
Also Ran: Danon Premium (Jpn), Furore (NZ), Dances With Dragon (NZ), Skalleti (Fr), Time Warp (GB). Click for the HKJC.com chart, PPs and sectional timing. VIDEO. Click for the free Equineline.com catalog-style pedigree.

Sunday, Sha Tin, Hong Kong
LONGINES HONG KONG MILE-G1, HK$25,000,000 (£2,426,394/€2,662,282/A$4,299,260/US$3,225,227), Sha Tin, 12-13, 3yo/up, 1600mT, 1:33.45, gd.
1–GOLDEN SIXTY (AUS), 126, g, 5, by Medaglia d’Oro
1st Dam: Gaudeamus (GSW-Ire, $179,846), by Distorted Humor
2nd Dam: Leo’s Lucky Lady, by Seattle Slew
3rd Dam: Konafa, by Damascus
1ST GROUP 1 WIN. (A$120,000 Ylg ’17 MMGCYS; NZ$300,000 2yo ’17 NZBRTR). O-Stanley Chan Ka Leung; B-Asco International Pty Ltd (Qld); T-Francis Lui; J-Vincent Ho; HK$14,250,000. Lifetime Record: Ch. 4yo-HK, 15-14-0-0, HK$52,845,600. *1/2 to Igitur (Aus) (Helmet {Aus}), SP-Aus. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Southern Legend (Aus), 126, g, 8, Not A Single Doubt (Aus)–Donna’s Appeal (Aus), by Carnegie (Ire). (A$280,000 Ylg ’13 INGEAS). O-Boniface Ho Ka Kui; B-Corumbene Stud (NSW); T-Caspar Fownes; J-Karis Teetan; HK$5,500,000.
3–Admire Mars (Jpn), 126, c, 4, Daiwa Major (Jpn)-Via Medici (Ire), by Medicean (GB). (¥52,000,000 Ylg ’17 JRHAJUL). O-Junko Kondo; B-Northern Farm; T-Yasou Tomomichi; J-Ryan Moore; HK$2,500,000.
Margins: 2, NK, NK. Odds: 3-10, 30-1, 22-5.
Also Ran: Waikuku (Ire), Beauty Generation (NZ), Order of Australia (GB), Mighty Giant (NZ), Ka Ying Star (GB), Simply Brilliant (GB), Romanised (Ire). Click for the HKJC.com chart, PPs and sectional timing. VIDEO. Click for the free Equineline.com catalog-style pedigree.

Sunday, Sha Tin, Hong Kong
LONGINES HONG KONG SPRINT-G1, HK$22,000,000 (£2,135,036/€2,341,961/A$3,783,349/US$2,838,187), Sha Tin, 12-13, 3yo/up, 1200mT, 1:08.45, gd.
1–DANON SMASH (JPN), 126, h, 5, by Lord Kanaloa (Jpn)
1st Dam: Spinning Wildcat, by Hard Spun
2nd Dam: Hollywood Wildcat, by Kris S.
3rd Dam: Miss Wildcatter, by Mr. Prospector
O-Danox Co Ltd; B-K I Farm; T-Takayuki Yasuda; J-Ryan Moore; HK$12,540,000. Lifetime Record: MGSW & MG1SP-Jpn, 22-10-3-1, HK$44,645,990. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Jolly Banner (Aus), 126, g, 9, Lonhro (Aus)–Valkyrie Diva (Aus), by Jade Robbery. (A$300,000 Ylg ’13 INGEAS). O-Mr & Mrs Kenny Cheng Tsin Ki; B-Makybe Racing & Breeding (Vic); T-Ricky Yiu; J-Mickael Barzalona; HK$4,840,000.
3–Rattan (NZ), 126, g, 7, Savabeel (Aus)–Grand Princess (Aus), by Last Tycoon (Ire). (NZ$150,000 Ylg ’15 NZBJAN). O-Wong Ting Bor; B-M H S & S H R Davidson & Mrs M P Schick; T-Richard Gibson; J-Chad Schofield; HK$2,200,000.
Margins: HF, NK, NO. Odds: 21-1, 83-1, 22-1.
Also Ran: Wishful Thinker (Aus), Fat Turtle (Aus), Computer Patch (Aus), Hot King Prawn (Aus), Voyage Warrior (Aus), Amazing Star (NZ), Stronger (Aus), Classique Legend (Aus), Big Party (Aus), Tower of London (Jpn), Big Time Baby (Ire).
Click for the HKJC.com chart, PPs and sectional timing. VIDEO. Click for the free Equineline.com catalog-style pedigree.

Sunday, Sha Tin, Hong Kong
LONGINES HONG KONG VASE-G1, HK$20,000,000 (£1,941,120/€2,129,056/A$3,438,840/US$2,580,090), Sha Tin, 12-13, 3yo/up, 2400mT, 2:27.21, gd.
1–MOGUL (GB), 121, c, 3, by Galileo (Ire)
1st Dam: Shastye (Ire) (SP-Eng), by Danehill
2nd Dam: Saganeca, by Sagace (Fr)
3rd Dam: Haglette, by Hagley
(3,400,000gns Ylg ’18 TATOCT). O-Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Mrs John Magnier; B-Newsells Park Stud; T-Aidan O’Brien; J-Ryan Moore; HK$11,400,000. Lifetime Record: G1SW-Fr, GSW-Eng & Ire, 11-5-1-1, HK$15,723,660. *Full to Secret Gesture (Ire), GSW & MG1SP-Eng, G1SP-Ger & Fr, GISP-US, $746,427; Maurus (GB) (Medicean {GB}), MSW & MGSP-Aus, $510,297; Sir Isaac Newton (GB), GSW-Ire, SW-Eng, GSP-Aus, $405,120; Japan (GB), Hwt. 3yo-Eng & Ire at 9.5f-11f & 11-14f, Hwt. 3yo-Eur at 9.5-11f, G1SW-Eng & Fr, $2,039,233. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Exultant (Ire), 126, g, 6, Teofilo (Ire)–Contrary (Ire), by Mark of Esteem (Ire). O-Eddie Wong Ming Chak & Wong Leung Sau Hing; B-Ballygallon Stud; T-Tony Cruz; J-Zac Purton; HK$4,400,000.
3–Columbus County (NZ), 126, g, 5, Redwood (GB)–Spirit of Sandford (NZ), by Kilimanjaro (GB). (NZ$33,000 Ylg ’17 NZBFEB). O-Mr & Mrs Hamen Fan Shi Hoo, Alex Fan Chen Yen & Christina Fan Chen Mun; B-D W Mayers & Mrs S J Taylor; T-Caspar Fownes; J-Joao Moreira; HK$2,000,000.
Margins: 3, HF, 2HF. Odds: 8-5, 7-10, 13-2.
Also Ran: Ho Ho Khan (NZ), Playa del Puente (Ire), Chefano (SAf), Royal Julius (GB). Click for the HKJC.com chart, PPs and sectional timing. VIDEO. Click for the free Equineline.com catalog-style pedigree.

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