Racing And Sports review the action from Hong Kong's International Meeting.
Without doubt the star of the show at the Hong Kong International meeting last Sunday was the Japanese sprinter Lord Kanaloa who slammed his rivals with a top class sprinting performance.
There was little doubt going in who the best sprinter in the race, indeed the world, was but in what would be his swansong Lord Kanaloa confirmed it emphatically.
His performance returned a rating of 132, a new peak figure, and up 5lbs on the 127 he ran winning the race last year.
That puts him right there with other top class sprinters to have won what is one of the world’s premier sprints in Sacred Kingdom and Silent Witness.
In the sprint ranks only the peerless Black Caviar has been up to better in recent times.
Away from Lord Kanaloa the day was Hong Kong’s with the home team holding onto the other three features.
Dominant was something of a surprise winner of a Hong Kong Vase that was steadily run and left a trail of hard luck stories, none more so than runner-up The Fugue.
Glorious Days led home a 1-2-3 for Hong Kong in the Mile.
His effort to run right up to his master rating, 125, at his first run of the season highlighting the talents (not that they needed much highlighting) of trainer John Size.
125 is a pound up from the figure he ran to in the race last year and fits right in line with race standards.
Gold Fun was the best of those racing on-speed in the Mile and he looks capable of building on his current rating of 123 over the rest of the season.
Akeed Mofeed rounded out the home town route in the Cup, taking his master figure from the 122 he recorded in last years QEII up to 124.
Tokei Halo had the run of things from the front and gave a big sight but Akeed Mofeed had the acceleration required off steady gallop at the death.
Cirrus Des Aigles was gallant as ever in defeat, though firm ground was against and his best is seemingly reserved for softer surfaces these days.
Military Attack ran on well without ever really threatening, the less than break neck gallop against him from where he was, but he is expected to continue to improve with racing over the campaign as he did last term.
He’s certainly not one to be dropped off just yet.
