Rain strikes with a vengeance - and Royal Ascot could be on agenda
VENGEANCE OF RAIN raised the possibility of mid-Summer trip to Ascot when taking his Group 1 haul to five in the Dubai Sheema Classic but there will be some more important work to be done at home before those thoughts are raised between connections.
The six-year-old gelding had race exclusively in Hong Kong since going there at the end of his three-year-old career and his 18 races since had been at Happy Valley, but the spectre of travelling overseas for the first time had clearly had no ill effects.
BestAlibi had set a steady pace in the lead under Frankie Dettori but South African-born Anthong Delpech always had Vengeance Of Rain handy in fourth place on the rails as Host and Quijano tailed the leader and Derby winner Sir Percy followed in close proximity.
Delpech had extricated his mount to the outside of the leader just after the turn for home and, launching the Zabeel gelding to the front inside the final two furlongs, only had to keep him up to his work to score by two lengths from the staying on Oracle West with Youmzain, half a length back in third, squeezing through on the rails to finish a short head in front of Sir Percy.
Winning trainer David Ferraris said: "This has to be one of the best horses in the world now - he's beaten the best mare in the world (Pride) and now he's beaten some of the best colts. It's once in a lifetime experience and I didn't leave the parade ring - that's how confident I was!"
"It will take a good one to lower his colours and I would certainly like to consider taking him to the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes. That race would suit him down to the ground but there's the Queen Elizabeth II at Sha Tin in a month's time and the money is so good in Hong Kong that I will have to sit down and discuss it with the owners before we think about any trips to Europe.
"He takes his racing so well and, without a doubt, he'll be ready for that and he really is a very special horse."
Delpech, said: "This is one of the biggest moments of my life and I when I saw him on Tuesday I knew nothing had phased him and today he was wide awake and that is always a good sign with him. It is fantastic for Hong Kong and, hopefully, this will encourage others to give it a go."
Mike de Kock's lucrative evening continued with a fine effort from Oracle West.
Jockey Weichong Marwing said: "He has come on from his last race and he gave me everything today."
Mick Channon was delighted Youmzain's effort and is looking forward to the domestic season ahead for last year's Great Voltigeur winner.
He said: "I am absolutely thrilled and always knew he was a good horse - for his first run of the year he run a great race and he will come on a ton from that. There are several options open to him including the Coronation Cup and we might even go back to a mile and a quarter.
Sir Percy left his Champion Stakes effort behind as he just faded in the closing stages into fourth place after some early drama in the race.
Victoria Pakenham, owner of the Derbywinner, said: "It's a thrill to have him back racing and I'm chuffed to bits. It's his first run for a long time and he was struck into after he came out of the stalls but got a good position and really could have done with a faster pace."
Martin Dwyer, winner of the race on Phoenix Reach two years earlier, said: "He ran a good race and I'm very pleased the winner quickened away from me but I thought I might get second and then he might have tired. The thing is he put the Champion Stakes behind him and we can now look forward to the Summer."
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