Collection lands HKD for Moore.

Collection lands Hong Kong Derby for Moore

Report: Hong Kong, Sunday

Sha Tin: Mercedes Benz Hong Kong Derby 1m2f

COLLECTION, winner of the 2008 Hampton Court Stakes at Royal Ascot, swooped late under Darren Beadman to land the richest victory of his career early on Sunday morning.

It was the third win in the race for trainer John Moore after Makarpura Star in 1995 and Viva Pataca in 2006 but Beadman was savouring his first success in the HK$16m classic and earned many post-race plaudits after a brilliant, take-no-prisoners ride

Backed into 2-5 favourite, the shortest priced runner in the race for a decade, Collection raced with only two horses behind him in the early stages as the field was led along by Galaxy Treasure.

At the halfway stage Beadman allowed the four-year-old to sweep around virtually every rival, in a matter of strides, to secure prime position behind the leader as the race moved into the home straight.

Off the home turn, Beadman kicked on and never looked in danger of relinquishing the advantage going on to win by a length and half


"The pace was very muddling and I had to play the cards that were dealt to me," said Beadman. "When the pace was steady I had to make a split-second decision to go forward so I went for it because I had full confidence in the horse. His last quarter was his fastest so it was pretty outstanding overall."

"The horse has made huge progress over the last three or four weeks and all the credit goes to John Moore. It was a fantastic training effort," Beadman said.

A drop back in distance for the Champions Mile is next on the winner's agenda, in order to avoid stable companion Viva Pataca in the Audemars Piguet QEII Cup that same day, April 26.

"I don't think it would be good to have them bumping at this stage because Viva Pataca has been unlucky not to win more of these international Group 1 races and I want to give him his fair chance to win another one at his age while Collection is still improving," said Moore.

"So Collection will go for the Champions Mile, and I think he would be very competitive in that race because he has got a hell of a turn of foot and they will go the speed he wants."

Moore predicted both his champions would eventually meet in the stayers' championship at the end of the season, the Citi Champions & Chater Cup, on May 31.

"Both horses are great champions, let them meet at the end of the season and see how they go then," he said, adding: "But I just want to enjoy the moment. Collection has won the Derby, Darren has ridden the race of his life and the I'm over the moon for everybody connected with the stable."

Christophe Soumillon always had the Danny Shum-trained Thumbs Up up with the pace and finished clear of Mr Medici.