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HKIR: Japan dominate at Sha Tin as they take home three of four Group 1s

, HKIR: Japan dominate at Sha Tin as they take home three of four Group 1s

IT was Japan-easy at Sha Tin as any European hopes were ended with Magic Wands agonising second in the Hong Kong Cup.

Aidan OBriens gutsy filly just missed out to Win Bright in the 2.8 million showstopper, meaning the Japanese took home three of the four Group 1s.

Win Bright made it a hat-trick of Group 1s for Japan” width=”960″ height=”588″ />
Win Bright made it a hat-trick of Group 1s for Japan

Magic Wand, who started her globetrotting campaign in the Pegasus back in January and managed her first Group 1 win in Australias Mackinnon last month, couldnt get a gap up the infamous Sha Tin straight despite Ryan Moores best efforts.

She took home a cool 616,000 for her days work but it was little consolation to a visibly gutted Moore.

But it was a momentous day for the equine superpower and it started with a bang for Japan as they had three of the first four home in the HK Vase.

Glory Vase lived up to his name as he cruised home by a handsome three-and-a-half-length margin for trainer Tomohito Ozeki and Joao Magic Man Moreira.

Oisin Murphys Deirdre was fourth after a horror trip and just missed out on a 1-2-3 for the dominant Japanese.

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The chat all week in Hong Kong surrounded the chances of the European raiders in the Vase, the HKIR opener.

But it quickly went wrong as Epsom hero Anthony Van Dyck, stablemate Mount Everest and the Frankie Dettori-ridden Young Rascal were all well beat.

Young Rascals trainer, William Haggas, said: He was off the bridle most of the way. He ran on well and didnt drop away.

Frankie said the ground was a bit quick for him. He lacks experience on these sort of races and I think he wants further now but I think he is reformed and quite capable.

He will run in the Sydney Cup over two miles in April.

Willie Mullins True Self fared best with a miserable seventh place in the 2 million Group 1.

Roger Charlton was also disappointed after Aspetar could only finish 13th partnered by Jason Watson.

, HKIR: Japan dominate at Sha Tin as they take home three of four Group 1s
Glory Vase was one of five winners for the Magic Man

He said: It wasnt to be. He was a little bit keen but thats him.

I thought Jason had him in a good position but there wasnt a lot of horse in the straight.

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I think the ground was too quick for him. He didnt really let himself go.

The only big pot not won by the Japanese was the HK Sprint, which went to local staple Beat The Clock, and it was that man Moreira once again.

Magic Man put on a clinic as he won won four of the first five races, and five in total – including both of the opening Group 1s.

No sooner had he taken the plaudits following the Vase, he downed new kid on the block and 1-2 jolly Aethero in the six furlong sprint.

Beat The Clock left it late, but gunned down the hype horse of the meeting with a bit of Moreira magic dust.

But it was soon business as usual as Japans Admire Mars sprung a 26-1 shock under Christophe Soumillon in the Hong Kong Mile.

Sir Michael Stoutes Zaaki was sent off a staggering 129-1 but could only beat two home under Moore.

The card ended as it started when Win Bright just saw off the Magic Wand challenge for trainer Yoshihiro Hatakeyama.

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For the third time the Japanese national anthem played across Sha Tin to what would normally have been a packed out racecourse.

But the ongoing civil unrest meant the crowd was thought to be under half what would normally be expected for the HKIR fixture.

Despite that, punting was up as stay-at-home punters clicked away on phones and laptops to increase the already huge pools.

 

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