Noriyuki Hori has left open the tantalising possibility that Maurice’s stellar career could continue after his stunning victory in the Hong Kong Cup on Sunday.
The Japanese raider ransacked Sha Tin with a sustained burst of speed that resulted in an easy three-length win over Secret Weapon in the feature race of a quartet of international races.
Maurice finished the final 800 metres in 47.01 seconds as he reeled in the tiring front-runner A Shin Hikari after weaving off the rail under jockey Ryan Moore.
It was a sixth Group 1 success for Maurice, and while the performance was thought to be the perfect swansong for Kazumi Yoshida’s five year old, the trainer dodged the question of retirement afterwards. “That’s what they have been writing in the newspapers, anyway,” Hori said.
Maurice’s retirement would not be out of place. He has proven himself at the highest level over 1,600m and now at 2,000m.
He has won in Hong Kong three times after wins in the Hong Kong Mile 12 months ago and the Champions Mile in May.
Maurice made his name over the shorter distance, but Moore’s post-race analysis suggests that Maurice may have even more to give over 2,000m.
“He’s a brilliant horse,” he said after his second Cup win.
“He is very good at a mile but he is possibly better at 10 furlongs. He has improved. He is a big strong horse and he has got better with racing. He has been a pleasure to ride.”
Hori became the first overseas trainer to secure a double on the night after Satono Crown agonisingly drew in Irish challenger Highland Reel to win the Hong Kong Vase.
Highland Reel, also ridden by Moore, had looked to have cut loose in the straight but, urged on by jockey Joao Moreira, Satono Crown cut down the lead in the final 200m to go on by half-a-length.
Moore had injected pace into the proceedings from between the final 800m to the final 400m, and with Satono Crown at full tilt the winning time of 2 minutes 26.22 seconds was the fastest in the history of the race.
The win gave Moreira the full house in all four international races, and the Brazilian said that, in his mind, there was never any doubt at the result.
“The way he won today, he’s shown that he’s got a lot of talent,” he said. “He beat a world-class horse in Highland Reel and being his rider today is a blessing. I was always confident I would get there.”
The shorter distance races were ruled by Zac Purton, who scored a double aboard Aerovelocity in the Sprint and Beauty Only in the Mile.
No horse older than six had ever won the Sprint, but eighty-year old Aerovelocity, who had won the 1,200m contest in 2014, edged out favourite Lucky Bubbles by a short head.
Al Quoz Sprint third Peniaphobia filled the same spot as at Meydan Racecourse in March.
Trainer Paul O’Sullivan ruled out a first run at Meydan for the quirky winner, preferring to remain East.
“He’ll go through the motions now,” he said. “Centenary Sprint Cup next. Maybe he’ll go back to Japan, try for two Takamatsunomiya Kinens now.
“I don’t think he’ll go to Dubai.
“The Japanese, as wonderful as their horses are, their sprinters are their Achilles heel.”
Follow us on Twitter @NatSportUAE
Like us on Facebook at facebook.com/TheNationalSport
