Hat Trick wins Hong Kong Mile for Japan
By Jo Adams (Thoroughbred News International) - 11 December 2005
Japan’s Hat Trick has continued his remarkable career making it eight wins from 13 starts, with success in the Hong Kong Mile at Sha Tin on Sunday.
The four-year-old entire by Sunday Silence from Tricky Code held off challenges by The Duke (Darren Beadman) and Dave’s Best (Christophe Soumillon) to win by a comfortable length
and a half.
They sprinted home in 22.8 with a final time of 1.34.80, which although not the fastest on record was comparable to the average for the distance.
‘He’s really good,’ said Peslier.
‘Today’s race was quite similar to when he won the Mile Championship at Kyoto.
‘I just wanted to take my time and produce him on the outside because he is better
when going around horses. I was always confident when he broke well and he quickened up really very well.’
‘Thanks to the jockey Peslier, I am very happy to win,’ said trainer Katsuhiko Sumil.
‘Peslier knows the horse’s nature and he can bring his potential very well. His next start has not yet been determined, but we will do our best every time we have a chance to race.
‘It was a great race and my horse showed very good performance in the stretch.’
‘It was a great effort,’ said Beadman of the Duke.
‘He did everything right. He didn’t weaken in the final furlong. He just couldn’t hold off the winner who was too good.’
The Tony Cruz trained favourite Bullish Luck raced in about eighth spot and ran on to finish fourth, without ever looking likely to take a hand in the finish.
The start of the race was delayed and this did not help Britain’s Rakti who had, for once, started the parade in a calm and relaxed manner.
When the riders headed out it was noticed that one of the runners had dropped a piece of lead and when it was not known which one it was, they were all called back in to re-saddle and weigh out again.
This delay did not help the enigmatic Rakti and while it can’t be blamed for his eventual 11th it didn’t help, along with him missing the start and settling mid-field on the fence outside of his usual on pace performance.
He has been immediately retired and will head to stud with 11 wins and five placings from his 26 starts with over HKD$22 million in earnings.
‘It was not the same Rakti,’ said jockey Philip Robinson.
‘The gears just weren’t there today. I Didn’t have the same horse under me and he couldn’t improve from a lovely position.’