APQEII Cup News : Eishin Preston conquers the world in Hong Kong again

21 April 2002

Eishin Preston

Once again Japanese horses conquered Hong Kong as Eishin Preston defeated his compatriot, Agnes Digital, in a rousing climax to the HK$14 million Audemars Piguet QEII Cup, the second leg of the World Series Racing Championship.

The winner of the Hong Kong Mile at last December's Hong Kong International Races and a horse that had impressed this week with his trackwork, Eishin Preston mastered Agnes Digital by half a length. The winner travelled well towards the rear early on and turned for home widest of all, but he soon came with a storming run to lead passing the 200 metres pole and had to pull out all the stops to hold the 2001 Hong Kong Cup hero. It was Eishin Preston's first attempt over the 2000-metre trip and the win made him the first recipient of a bonus worth HK$1 million for adding today's Group 1 to his HKIR success. He started the 7-2 second favourite.

Idol cut out the early running with Helene Vitality, Grandera and Okawango in close attendance. Once into the stretch, Frankie Dettori kicked Grandera, the 11/10 favourite, into the lead but had no response to the Japanese challenge or that of the late finishing Indigenous from Hong Kong and Australia's Universal Prince who came out of the chasing pack to snatch third and fourth respectively.
Okawango from France raced in third for much of the trip but found nothing under pressure, while Lethals Lady, also from France, found trouble in running at the top of the stretch.

Winning jockey Yuichi Fukunaga said: "The early pace was slow but it picked up in the second half. I thought I would win coming into the straight but in the closing stages I was worried that Agnes Digital might pass me. I think this horse likes Hong Kong!"

"My horse has been in great condition," trainer Shuji Kitahashi said, adding: "and I would like to thank my staff for all their help. Eishin Preston's owner Toyomitsu Hirai would like to compete in more international events and I hope we will be back here in December for the Hong Kong Cup."

Agnes Digital ran a gallant race in defeat, having had to endure a tough trip to Dubai in March. His trainer Toshiaki Shirai said: "He tried very hard to win the race but I think after the trip to Dubai he was only at about 90% of his very best today. He will be back but we will give him a break for a while now."

Making his sixth consecutive appearance in the race, Indigenous finished best of the home defence under jockey Felix Coetzee, who said: "What a horse. I followed the winner and while he gave me everything the Japanese had too much pace." Indigenous' excellent run earned his connections HK$1.5 million.

Justin Sheehan, rider of last year's AJC Australian Derby winner, Universal Prince, said: "I came there to win but at 200 metres he hit a brick wall. I feel frustrated for the horse but, having said that, he has just run a blinding race."

Frankie Dettori said of Grandera: "He was a bit fresh early on and had every chance off the home turn. Maybe he is just a race short of his best."

As for the this year's Hong Kong Derby winner, Olympic Express, jockey Weichong Marwing said: "He ran well but this was a big step-up in class and he was a bit one-paced in the finish.