Contentment continued his rise towards the top with a first Group race win (Thursday, 1 October) in the HKG3 Celebration Cup (Handicap) at Sha Tin Racecourse this afternoon, the second of two feature contests at the National Day fixture.
A little over an hour after Not Listenin’tome had wowed the near 32,000 race-goers in the HKG3 National Day Cup, and on a day when turnover rose to HK$1.3 billion – 10.8% up on this day last year and the highest for the fixture since at least 1997 – Contentment took his own sizeable slice of the limelight.
John Size’s runner was sent off a short favourite in the 1400m Celebration Cup – his first start of the season – thanks to his exciting profile, a plum draw in gate three, a featherweight 115lb on his back, an impressive recent barrier trial and the services of Champion Jockey Joao Moreira.
The Hussonet five-year-old, officially acclaimed last season’s Most Improved Horse, enjoyed a dream run under the Brazilian – one off the rail in fourth spot – as the Tony Cruz-trained Beauty Flame (128lb) took the field of 14 along under Gerald Mosse, shadowed by the grey Divine Calling (114lb).
When the last-named quickened to a narrow lead at the top of the stretch under Vincent Ho, Contentment was already rolling and Moreira driving. Within strides the Size-trained chestnut had surged past the Caspar Fownes trainee’s outside flank and quickened to a daylight lead.
As Divine Calling faltered it was left to another grey, the Richard Gibson-trained Giant Treasure (116lb), to press Moreira’s mount. Douglas Whyte urged his partner to within a half-length of Contentment at the wire but the relaxed winner appeared to have more in reserve.
A further two lengths back, the Tony Millard-trained Super Lifeline edged third in a blanket finish that saw Divine Calling share fourth place with the John Moore-trained Exciting Dream (115lb). The winning time was 1m 21.17s.
Moreira, who has now won four from four on the Australian-bred gelding – whose overall record reads seven from 10 – was pleased with the performance and expects better ahead.
“He is a much more mature horse than he was last season and he showed us what we were expecting,” said Moreira. “I don’t think he is at his best at the moment and he still won, so we are very excited about what he will bring to his next races. Wherever he goes he will be competitive - he has heart.”
Moreira rode a treble on the day to give him 17 for the season so far, 10 clear of nearest pursuer Douglas Whyte.
