Valley played host to the world's best riders
Honours were split in the inaugural Cathay Pacific Superstar8 Jockey Challenge which pitted Australia and Hong Kong’s best riders against one another at Moonee Valley on Friday night.
The locals prevailed in the team competition, but it was Hong Kong-based former Aussie Brett Prebble who took out the individual honours in the three-race series.
A win on Sparkling Satine and second on Ulysses were enough to secure Prebble a one-point victory (20-19) over Damian Oliver, who won the opening leg on Common Interest.
Whilst enjoying his return to Melbourne, Prebble was equally happily to upstage the locals riding under the Hong Kong banner.
“I've been in Hong Kong for five years so it's my home now and it was a good buzz to top the points,” he said. “They're a great bunch of guys and we had a lot of fun.”
Whilst unplaced in the opening leg, Prebble fancied his chances in the Challenge.
“I thought my last two rides were the best ones on form and that's how it panned out,” he said.
“I was impressed with the mare (Sparkling Satine). She's tough and she's honest and she enjoyed the cut out of the ground.”
When quizzed about whether he would be returning to Melbourne over the Spring Racing Carnival, Prebble was quick to respond with “A quick horse will get me back!”
Representing the winning Australian team was Oliver, Craig Newitt, Craig Williams and Dwayne Dunn, whilst the beaten Hong Kong team featured Prebble, Douglas Whyte, Olivier Doleuze and Howard Cheng.
The Superstar8 Jockey Challenge was one of the highlights of the opening night of the 2009/10 Night Racing Season at Moonee Valley, a night which saw Danleigh win the Group 1 Sportingbet Manikato Stakes.
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