Superb Sylvestre
SYLVESTRE DE SOUSA produced one gleaming ray of triumph for European raiders on the Longines International card at Sha Tin when taking the £1.5million first prize in the Group One Hong Kong Cup on Glorious Forever.
Teaming up with local trainer Frankie Lor, the British champion jockey executed a perfect frontrunning ride.
Newmarket’s Ed Walker had trained Glorious Forever last year; here he had to settle for eighth with Stormy Antarctic.
De Sousa said: “I won the battle for the first 300 metres and after that he was in the money. I was going so well at 800 metres I thought if anyone was going to take the race off me, it would have to be one of the Europeans. Everything was in my favour with the draw and everything went to plan.”
Lor also claimed the Longines Hong Kong Sprint for a second year with Mr Stunning.
The visitors did not fare well in the Hong Kong Mile (£1.38m) with another defending champion Beauty Generation, already rated the world’s best turf miler, romping home by three lengths in the hands of Zac Purton, who had earlier ridden Exultant to win the Vase.