Star jockey Ryan Moore has claimed his first BMW Hong Kong Derby as Ping Hai Star put on a stunning display, coming from last to take out the HK$18 million feature.
Moore dropped the John Size-trained Ping Hai Star to the tail of the field out of the gates as The Golden Age took up the running, setting an even tempo.
The Englishman bided his time before asking for an effort from the $5.20 chance at the top of the straight and the four-year-old responded with gusto, picking off his rivals one by one before coming away to score by a length and three quarters.
Classic Cup winner Singapore Sling (Chad Schofield) held on for second, while the $3.40 favourite Exultant (Zac Purton) ground away for third.
Ping Hai Star stamps himself as Hong Kong's next star with a dazzling last-to-first win in the BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m) for jockey Ryan Moore and trainer John Size #HKDerby #4YOCS #HKRacing pic.twitter.com/qXWryAr67R
— HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) March 18, 2018
The result gives Size his third Derby victory.
The disappointment of the race was Ping Hai Star’s stablemate Nothingilikemore, who was given a perfect run by Joao Moreira but faded in the straight.
Rousing reception for Ping Hai Star and jockey Ryan Moore from the Sha Tin fans after the BMW Hong Kong Derby ⭐️ pic.twitter.com/dwFDKTTWdx
— Michael Cox (@KemblaCoxy) March 18, 2018
