Fast Network’s participation in the Group One Sprinters Stakes (1,200m) on September 27 has been thrown into doubt after a throat issue saw him plummet down the field in Sunday’s Group Two Centaur Stakes (1,200m).

Dennis Yip Chor-hong’s crack sprinter was fancied to go well at Hanshin ahead of a tilt at the Sprinters Stakes at Nakayama later in the month.

Damian Lane appeared to be travelling well for much of the journey, but as the field turned for home, Fast Network was quickly in trouble and began to back-pedal through the field rapidly.

The Wrote galloper beat just one rival home, with the $2.5 favourite Flicker Jab landing the race for trainer Shota Nishizono and jockey Kohei Matsuyama.

Yip blamed a recurring throat issue for Fast Network’s defeat and his two-race Japan campaign might be over after the first leg, depending on the results of a scope.

“He jumped well, but he only just stayed on over the last 200m. I scoped him after the race and he has had the problem before, but maybe this time, it’s come again – it’s very disappointing,” Yip said.

“I will talk to my vet in Hong Kong, and we will decide in the next few days. It’s the same problem as last year, I’ve sent a video to the vet. If he is like this then no chance in the race (Sprinters Stakes). I won’t upset the horse, but I will talk to the vet and see what he recommends.

“He’s fine back in the stables but it was just over the last 200m in the race, he can’t breathe. He travelled well and everything was good, but when he asked him, he had the issue.”

It was a day to forget for Hong Kong’s international runners on Sunday with Gorgeous Win’s fifth in the Group Three Korea Sprint (1,200m) being their best result across South Korea and Japan.

The Danny Shum Chap-shing galloper travelled midfield throughout the journey and kept digging in to hold off some fast-finishing rivals, with the hot $1.8 favourite Dragon Welds landing the spoils for Japan.

“He ran a great race,” Gorgeous Win’s jockey Richard Kingscote said.

“Danny’s team had him in good nick, and I thought the application of the eye shields was a very good idea. It’s not a surface the horse is used to, and I thought they were very helpful with us being in the kickback. The horse did everything right, ran strongly all the way to the line and I was happy with him.

Beauty Waves started slowly for trainer Tony Cruz and last year’s Korea Sprint-winning jockey Jerry Chau Chun-lok and that put paid to his chances, with his effort petering out in the straight.

He was only 15th, while last year’s winner Self Improvement was under pressure throughout the contest and was just a place ahead of Beauty Waves in 14th.