Tastiera returns to top level with QEII Cup win in Hong Kong

Tastiera

It was FWD Champions Day in Hong Kong last Sunday, and among the competition from around the world, Japan sent eight runners to contest the three G1 races held on the day at Sha Tin. Prior to the big event, it looked as if Japan’s best chance of a win might come in the QEII Cup, a race that has given the country winners on numerous occasions, with the most recent being Loves Only You in 2021.

Three of Japan’s best middle-distance horses were entered for the race, and each one of them was looking to find a way to get their careers back on track, having not quite lived up to expectations recently. This year’s QEII Cup looked to be at the mercy of one of the Japanese runners, but they would have to beat the French-trained Goliath, winner of last year’s King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot, and a respectable sixth-place getter in the Japan Cup, the last time he ran, when connections felt things didn’t go his way.

It was Tastiera that proved to be the best of the Japan-trained runners, with the 2023 Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) winner taking out the QEII Cup under jockey Damian Lane, riding once again for trainer Noriyuki Hori. Always racing in a handy position, Tastiera went on to win comfortably, when asked for an extra effort on the run to the line, and Lane had nothing but praise for the trainer: “He’s an amazing conditioner of horses, and I just feel privileged and lucky to be here on these days, as well as getting to ride these top horses. It’s very rewarding.”

Hori was also pleased with the outcome: “It’s been a while since the horse has showed his best here in Hong Kong. With the different environment, it’s not always easy to bring out the best in him. Maurice has been the only horse I’ve brought here that could win at the first attempt. I have to thank Damian as well, being a key man for our stable.”

Japan’s other two runners in the race, Prognosis and Liberty Island, both trained by Mitsumasa Nakauchida, couldn’t match up to the might of Tastiera. Prognosis, ridden by James McDonald, finished second in the race for the third consecutive year, while Liberty Island, a multiple G1 winner in Japan, had to be pulled up by jockey Yuga Kawada, just when it seemed the horse might have a chance turning for home.

The first of the G1 races on the day, the HKD22 million Chairman’s Sprint Prize, saw Japan field four runners in a bid to lower the colors of champion sprinter Ka Ying Rising, but the 4-year-old gelding, trained by David Hayes, proved to be just that and some more, when running away with the 1,200 meters contest. Before the race, Joao Moreira, hot off G1 success in Japan, thought he might be able to get a bit closer to the champion on Satono Reve (also trained by Noriyuki Hori), but it was just wishful thinking, even though he was still pleased with this year’s G1 Takamatsunomiya Kinen winner.

“We’ve probably just bumped into the best sprinter in the world,” the Brazilian ace commented. “I couldn’t have been happier though, with the way my horse performed.”

Japan’s other runners. Lugal, Danon McKinley and A Shin Fencer, all started slowly, although the latter was driven up to be closer to the pace by jockey Craig Williams, and while Lugal and Danon McKinley did gain ground on the inside later in the race, they were certainly no match for the latest sprint sensation in Hong Kong, who won in a time of 1 minute 07.88 seconds, two and a quarter-lengths ahead of Satono Reve. Not too much was lost in defeat, with winning jockey Zac Purton saying: “I applaud the Japanese. They’re willing to travel and take anyone on anywhere in the world.”

Gaia Force was the other runner for Japan on the day, and he contested the G1 FWD Champions Mile. Up against the likes of Hong Kong’s Voyage Bubble and Australia’s Mr Brightside, the striking 6-year-old grey by Kitasan Black put in a good run before fading to ninth at the finish. Trainer Haruki Sugiyama shrugged off the wide draw for the horse, and he looked to be right, with jockey Yuga Kawada getting Gaia Force into a good position, where he could run to suit his racing style. He was, however, unable to keep up the momentum, with longshot Red Lion and Voyage Bubble doing battle to the line, and it was Hugh Bowman on the outsider that just prevailed, but he did have to survive a stewards’ inquiry.

Of Gaia Force, Kawada said: “He started well and kept up the pressure, but just lost some power towards the end.”

Official results; Sprint, Mile, Cup

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