HKJCInspiration led home an almighty shock Hong Kong quinella in the Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Sprint at Sha Tin under a brilliant ride from Darren Beadman.
John Moore's huge outsider at 67-1 just got the better off his fellow local runner Green Birdie by a neck with Australia's hot favourite, Apache Cat, half a length back in third.
Pix: HKJC
It was the seventh consecutive success for a Hong Kong-trained horse in this race, one of the world's richest turf events over 1200m. Australian-bred horses have now won this dash in every editions since its inauguration in 1999. This year the first five home had roots from Down Under. Europe's top sprinter, Marchand D'Or, could only manage sixth.
A delighted but amazed Moore said: "We put him in for the run. It's amazing. Mark Player [the Club's Head of International Races, Sale and Development] rang and asked if we would like to run and I said, 'Why not'?"
"It's a surprise but it was a gem of a ride from Darren as he was able to tuck in behind them. He has always shown abundant speed and at today he had the right run."
Trainer Greg Eurell, responsible for the race favourite
Apache Cat, said: "No excuses, he hit a flat spot as he always does in his races, but then he ran on again, but just didn't have enough petrol in the tank today."
