Tim Clark and Ben Melham didn't have any favours aboard the Australian-trained pair in the Group I Hong Kong Sprint at Sha Tin on Sunday, but it was another Australian hoop who had plenty to say post-race.
Brett Prebble was aboard $2.20 favourite Lucky Bubbles in the HK$18.5million sprint, but found trouble in the run before getting clear late and storming home, missing by a short head to Zac Purton aboard Aerovelocity.
"It was a pretty rough race and I got shuffled back a little more than I would have liked," Prebble said.
"There are a few jocks playing jockeys out there. If I get out early he wins, full stop.
"He is the best horse in the race. There is no better horse than Lucky Bubbles at the moment."
Tim Clark rode the Gary Moore-trained Takedown into sixth place, beaten 1-3/4 lengths.
"He ran well – he just didn't show much early speed," Clark said. "He kept working along the whole way."
Ben Melham partnered Gary Portelli's Rebel Dane into eleventh place, enduring a wide run in transit after settling much closer to the pace than expected.
"Not much to say really," Melham said. "He just didn't have it today."
