The
$10million Hong Kong Classic Cup (1800m) at Sha Tin on Sunday featured a hot field
including Queensland Derby winner Dark Dream and last start Hong Kong Classic
Mile winner Furore with victory going to another talented Australian bred four
year-old in Mission Tycoon.
Considered a long shot, despite having finished second to Furore in the Classic
Mile at his previous start, the Frankie Lor trained gelding led all the way to win
by a length over Dark Dream with Furore in fourth place.
"A
little bit surprised," was how trainer Frankie Lor summed up the shock win.
Hong Kong's latest training sensation saddled three of the first four home in
this second leg of the Four-Year-Old Classic Series, just as he had in the
opening salvo, last month's Hong Kong Classic Mile.
But, despite Mission Tycoon's grand effort to take second in that contest four
weeks ago, he was ignored in the market with stablemate Dark Dream, deemed an
unlucky fourth in the Classic Mile, sent off as the favourite ahead of Furore,
also trained by Lor.
"We didn't care about the odds. He ran well last time, he ran second," said
winning rider Derek Leung.
"Today I was able to go forward without any
pressure. Mission Tycoon switched off and that's why he was able to finish at
the end."
Frankie Lor will now look to the Hong Kong Derby, the third and final leg of the Four Year Old Classic Series.
"All
the horses ran well today," he said. "Maybe the pace wasn't fast enough for
Dark Dream and Furore but next time the 2000 metres will be more suitable for
them."
Dark Dream's rider Zac Purton concurred.
"He ran well," Purton said. "I was just hoping he'd be up for the fight in the
straight but he was a bit one-paced. He gave the feeling today that he's a mile
and a half horse."
Furore, so impressive when storming clear of the Classic Mile field, ran on
from deep in the pack after drawing wide in gate 12.
"I'm very pleased with him," jockey Hugh Bowman said. "He was just too far back
from a wide draw but he'll be right for the Derby."
Mission Tycoon was a $50,000 Inglis Premier purchase from the Phoenix Broodmare
Farm draft for Inglis as agent and started his career in Australia with Mark
Newnham winning his only two starts at Newcastle and Kembla in the spring of
2017.
Since transferring to Hong Kong he has gradually come to top form and has the
overall record of four wins and four placings from 11 starts.
Mission Tycoon is the best of three winners from Lakemba Gold, who comes from the
family of triple Group I winner Drawn. Lakemba Gold died in 2017 and her last
foal is a yearling filly by Fighting Sun
Mission Tycoon is the 27th stakes-winner for Woodside Park's
flagship sire Written Tycoon, who covered 160 mares last spring at a fee of
$110,000.