For three years Australian jockey Brett Prebble felt he owed Casper Fownes a Krisflyer International Sprint.
Photo by Racing and Sports
On Sunday night he paid that due with an emphatic win aboard Fownes' star Hong Kong sprinter Lucky Nine.
It was Prebble's second win in the $1m Group 1, and the third for Hong Kong following North Boy's win in the race in 2002, and Green Birdie's victory in 2010.
Prebble was due to ride Green Birdie on that occasion, but stayed in Hong Kong to chase the jockeys' premiership.
Mark Du Plessis was the beneficiary on that occasion, scoring a narrow win over Singapore superstar Rocket Man.
Tonight Prebble had his chance for his good mate Fownes, and didn't let him down finishing three lengths clear of a game Bel Sprinter.
“I knocked back coming here one time when I was chasing the premiership, I gave up the ride on Green Birdie,” Prebble said.
“This actually a bit more special because I should already have one with Casper, I've made it up to him.”
The Melbourne Cup-winning jockey settled just off the pace on Lucky Nine and stormed clear in the straight. Bel Sprinter peeled wide and finished powerfully enough to run past third placegetter Super Easy, but copped a momentum-deflating check as he began winding up in the straight.
“His last two have been out of character for him, but he bounced back to his best tonight, he gave me a very good turn of foot when he let go,” Prebble said.
“He was the first out and he hasn't been doing that for a long time. He was quite happy in the barrier tonight he was quite relaxed even though one [Dasher Go Go] upset the start.
“He still got away so brilliant and my confidence went from maybe six to 10 straight away. That had been his biggest problem the last two.
“He runs a mile, so with the turn of foot he gave me straight away they weren't going to run me down unless his health issues were at the end.”
It was Lucky Nine's fourth run overseas since moving to Hong Kong.
“He has been a bit unlucky going overseas on a couple of occasions but that's what we can see when he's on song,” Fownes said.
“It was great, Brett got him in a great position and he was very strong to the line so it was nice to see.
“It's really good it means a lot to us. He's very deserving of this victory and I look forward to next season with him.”
