The Japanese sent a strong contingent for this year’s International Race Day at Sha Tin and they carried of three of the four Group 1 races with Win Bright (JPN) putting the stamp on a great day when he edged the valiant Magic Wand (IRE) by a short-head in the days feature, the Group 1 The Longines Hong Kong Cup.
Ridden by Masami Matsuoka, Win Bright raced one out one back with Ryan Moore on Magic Wand (IRE) on his inside.
While Win Bright (JPN) had an uninterrupted run in the straight, Magic Wand (IRE) did not seem to appreciate being crowed between runners but she is nothing if not game and after looking beaten 100 metres out she began to rally and was fast-catching the winner but fell a short-head short.
Local hope Rise High (FR) (Myboycharlie) was a half-length back in third.
“It went the way we were expecting. I thought the pace would be slow so I sat about third or fourth. I was really happy the way it went. It’s a great honour to be representing Japan,” Matsuoka said.
Ryan Moore was typically succinct.
“She ran super, she was unlucky. She’s very game, he said.
A multiple Group II winner in his homeland, Win Bright (JPN) defeated Exultant and Lys Gracieux in the Group 1 QE II Cup at Sha Tin back in April.
A 5yo son of the Sunday Silence stallion Stay Gold, Win Bright is a brother to Win Fabulous who was runner-up in the 2015 Group 1 Hanshin Juvenile Fillies.
Their dam the 3-time winning Admire Cozzene mare Summer Eternity has a 2yo Orfevre (JPN) named Win Radiant and she had a filly foal by Deep Impact (JPN) this year.
