After the drama of losing his appeal and a winning Melbourne Cup ride on Dunaden, it was sweet revenge as Craig Williams and the Mikel Delzangles trained Dunaden took the HK$14 million Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Vase in fine style at Sha Tin on Sunday.
While it was Dunaden's first victory in Hong Kong, Williams is no stranger here, having scored over a hundred victories during a three year riding stint, before returning to Australia in 2005.
Mighty High( led briefly before Jackalberry(IRE) took up the running to lead the field down the back straight. With no early pace on, Williams was content to let Dunaden bowl along midfield, two off the fence, while Red Cadeaux and Vadamar brought up the rear of the field.
With 300m to go, the sprint for the line started in earnest with Dettori on Campanologist(USA) the first to make his move up the inside, while Thumbs Up started his run on the standside.
Thumbs Up drifted inward momentarily, blocking Dunaden's run up the centre of the track, but an unfazed Williams waited for Brett Prebble to straighten his mount before launching his attack.
Dunaden was faced with a narrow gap, filled with flailing whips as Dettori urged Campanologist on left-handed, but the slight stayer paid scant attention and within a couple of strides he was through and into the lead.
Thumbs Up stayed on bravely for second 0.75L back, while Red Cadeaux, forced to come around the field and Silver Pond dead-heated for third a further 0.75L back.
The time was 2.27.50 on the Good to Firm track.
"He was courageous and it was very, very thrilling to win a Group 1 riding a horse like Dunaden,” said Williams.
“He was in better condition here than in Melbourne. After working him on Tuesday I was very confident and really looking forward to the race, especially when he got the right draw in barrier three. When I asked him to accelerate he was super. He just picked it up and he was dominant at the end.”
“During my three years here, I never once got on the podium in an international, so when I got on the podium with Dunaden, the hairs on the back of my neck stood up” he added.
“Amazing, amazing! I would not have believed we could do this back in May. It is a dream come true and I am very, very happy.
"He won quite easily too. The most important thing is team work, especially when you are away from home for three months” said Delzangles.“He is a very easy horse to train and luckily he also travels very well. It was very nice to have Williams back on Dunaden, it was the perfect ending."
Dunaden, by Nicobar out of La Marlia (Kaldounevees), won in a time of 2.27.5 for owner Sheikh Fahad Bin Abdullah Al Thani's Pearl Bloodstock.
