10 December 2023 , 10:05
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Aidan O’Brien praised the standard of Hong Kong racing after the top trainer finished out of the winners’ spot at the Longines Hong Kong International Races.
The Ballydoyle trainer had assembled his strongest ever team for the last big international Flat meeting of 2023. He was mobbed by Hong Kong racing fans, a lucky few of whom got their racecards signed by the world's top trainer.
His quartet included the multiple Group 1 winners Luxembourg and Warm Heart for the £12 million fixtures. But Warm Heart was beaten into third in the Vase and Luxembourg just fell short of overhauling Romantic Warrior, who took the Cup by a short head.
Luxembourg only narrowly missed out. He was gaining on hot favourite Romantic Warrior, who also won the race in 2022, all the way to the line.
“Ryan just said he was on the wrong nod up and down but he ran a stormer,” said O’Brien.
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“Those horses must have run to half a pound of what they were rated, I think. Romantic Warrior and Luxembourg were more or less rated the same.
“It just shows how competitive it is here. Hong Kong racing is very competitive worldwide now. When the horses come together like that you can compare ratings, and that’s what we want.”
Hong Kong bagged three of the four big races as local champions Golden Sixty took the Mile, Lucky Sweynesse the Sprint and Romantic Warrior the Cup.
Lucky Sweynesse was sent off 7-20 favourite for the 6f race and comfortably dismised British mare Highflield Princess who was back in sixth, beaten four lengths
Jockey Jason Hart said: "She ran solid. I think five furlongs in a straight line is more her gig these days."
Only France’s master trainer Andre Fabre prevented a whitewash by capturing the Vase with Junko.