Marwing wins Hk$8m group1

HONG KONG icon Viva Pataca recorded the seventh Group 1 success of his career on Sunday at Sha Tin with a determined victory in the Citi-sponsored Champions & Chater Cup

With trainer John Moore’s retained riderDarren Beadman having discarded Viva Pataca in favour of HK Derby winner Collection, the seven-year-old was partnered by Weichong Marwing in the HK$8 million (£640,000) event.

Only narrowly denied last term, the redoubtable Viva Pataca registered his third victory in the final Group 1 of the Hong Kong season with a neck verdict over the admirable Thumbs Up. Collection finished third, two lengths behind the first two.

Viva Pataca earned his owner Dr Stanley Ho a HK$2m bonus for winning a second race in the Citi Triple Crown after his Hong Kong Gold Cup win in February.


Weichong Marwing: spare ride


“He's a bit like me,” suggested Dr Ho. “He’s getting on in age but he's still very strong!”

Winningtrainer John Moore reckons Viva Pataca has now done enough to be named Hong Kong horse of the year.

“I think that might make him favourite for the title now,” he said.

“The fact that he keeps winning these big races season after season has to be recognised.

“And it was a strong win considering how he was held up at the top of the straight with horses coming back on him, but he got to the line strongly onceWeichong got him into the clear.

“It showed that Viva Pataca is still the king at these distances of 2,000m and above.”

Clearly swayed by Beadman’s decision to partner Collection, VivaPataca started a 7-4 second favourite with the latter, running beyond 1m2f for the first time, supported into a shade of odds-on.

"Collection ran well in defeat but he hasn’t got the same mileage as Viva Pataca over the mile and a half,” added Moore.

“Collection will have a break now but the plan is still to take him to Australia for the Cox Plate in October.”

Thumbs Up made the minor places for the third Group 1 event in a row.

“He never runs a bad race,” said trainer Danny Shum. “He’s so consistent. That’s it now for the season and next year I might look for him to go for the Vase at this distance. He has proved that he’s a top-class stayer.”

Packing Winner, who beat Viva Pataca in the 2008 renewal, could finish only sixth having endured a very wide trip.

Nice one Weichong.

Still one of the best jockeys around.