Glory Vase reigns supreme in Hong Kong Vase with Pyledriver a valiant second

Glory Vase lived up to both his name and reputation when he produced a strong turn of foot to reel in Pyledriver and claim his second Longines Hong Kong Vase on Sunday.

Winner of the Group 1 contest in 2019, the Japanese runner scored by a length from the William Muir and Chris Grassick-trained Pyledriver under a perfectly timed ride by Joao Moreira.

While Pyledriver's early attack down the home straight under Martin Dwyer initially looked enough to repel the driving charge of Glory Vase, he was unable to hold on for victory in what was his first international start after suffering a setback during the summer.

Dual Group 2 winner Ebaiyra, bidding to give retiring trainer Alain de Royer-Dupre a final top-flight success, was two and a half lengths back in third, with last year's winner Mogul sixth of the eight runners under Ryan Moore.

Moreira said: "Everything went as I expected. I got a smooth run on to the fence, saving ground. I just made sure I got him into the clear as I know he's a very strong horse at the finish, and there was not a fight. He has proven to be the best horse today."

Trained by Tomohito Ozeki, Glory Vase now has two successes from three starts at Sha Tin, having also finished a close second to Loves Only You – later to win the Cup on the same card – in the QEII Cup in April.

Sent off favourite to reclaim his 2019 title, Glory Vase was having his first start since September, when he finished third in a Group 2 at Nakayama.

2021 Hong Kong Vase full result

Sky Field wins Hong Kong Sprint

Sky Field claimed top honours in the Group 1 Longines Hong Kong Sprint after a horrific four-horse incident midway through the race.

The Caspar Fownes-trained runner snatched victory by three-quarters of a length in a tightly packed finish from Resistencia, with Courier Wonder in third.

The Hong Kong Jockey Club reported that jockeys Zac Purton, Yuichi Fukunaga and Lyle Hewitson were conscious and had been taken to hospital after the incident on the turn for home, where Amazing Star fell, bringing down Naboo Attack, Pixie Knight and the favourite Lucky Patch.

Karis Teetan (riding Naboo Attack) was able to take up the rest of his rides but Hewitson (Amazing Star) suffered a broken hip, while Purton (Lucky Patch) broken his nose and three ribs. Amazing Star and Naboo Attack suffered fatal injuries and Pixie Knight suffered a fracture in the left fore knee.

Winning rider Blake Shinn said: “I have mixed emotions for winning this race today. Obviously, the first emotion is that my feelings are with the fallen jockeys and horses out there. It’s gut-wrenching for any rider to see a horse go down. What’s happened today, it’s a real bittersweet win and in a way it’s a hard win to take in the circumstances.”

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