Contentment took another no-nonsense stride towards the LONGINES Hong Kong International Races on 13 December with a smooth victory in the HKG2 Oriental Watch Sha Tin Trophy (Handicap) at Sha Tin Racecourse this afternoon, Sunday 25 October.
“The (Group 2) Jockey Club Mile will be next and then the international Mile in December,” said trainer John Size, who has long rated the gelding a Group 1 horse in the making.
“He has always shown me that he was a very good horse, from the first day that he walked into the stable. I’ve made no secret of the fact that I thought he was a good horse before he raced. He always did everything correctly – he’s always presented like a good horse.”
The day’s headline contest lived up to its billing with a high-class field of 14 that featured five Group 1 winners in Military Attack and Blazing Speed, equal high-weights with 133lb apiece, Dan Excel, Dominant and Helene Super Star. But it was the lower-weighted rising stars, last season’s Four-Year-Old Series protagonists Contentment (120lb) and Beauty Only (119lb) that held sway both at the market’s fore and within the winning post’s shadow.
Contentment lined up for the mile contest as a hot race favourite under Champion Jockey Joao Moreira following an impressive win last start in the HKG3 Celebration Cup (Handicap). When the gates flew back the Brazilian was all bustle in ensuring the chestnut found a handy berth from his draw in barrier 11. The pair parked second outside the Alvin Ng-ridden leader Beauty Flame who steadied the tempo at around the 1000-metre point.
Beauty Flame kicked on at the top of the home straight but Moreira was cruising on the winner. Switched out to challenge, Contentment quickened decisively to lead with 250m remaining and seemed to lose concentration close home as Beauty Only powered home from deep under Neil Callan (22.01s for the final 400m) to get within three quarters of a length at the wire. Military Attack was a further two and a half lengths away in third.
“He is a lovely horse, when he knew it was time to go, he just picked up the bridle and off we went,” said Moreira of his partner, who stopped the clock at 1m 33.79s (22.58s final 400m). “He enjoys himself so much out there, as much as I enjoy myself riding him. He has a very bright future and it’s pretty good to have chances to ride horses like that.”
Contentment was taking his Hong Kong record to eight wins from 11 starts and Size commented: “He does the same thing every day. He’s not complicated which has probably helped him a lot with his record. He’s straightforward, he does the same thing, there’s no mystery to him, no tricks to him.”
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Photo 1:
Photo 1, 2, 3
John Size-trained Contentment (No. 10), ridden by Joao Moreira, holds Beauty Only to win the Oriental Watch Sha Tin Trophy (HK Group 2, 1600m) at Sha Tin Racecourse today.
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Photo 2
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Photo 3
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Photo 4:
Connections of Contentment celebrate their victory.
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Photo 5:
Photo 5, 6, 7
Mr Philip N L Chen (front row, first from right), Steward of the Hong Kong Jockey Club, presents the Oriental Watch Sha Tin Trophy and silver dish each to Benson Lo Tak Wing, owner of Contentment, trainer John Size and jockey Joao Moreira.
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Photo 6
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Photo 7
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Photo 8:
Chairman of the Oriental Watch Holdings Limited Dr Yeung Ming Biu, accompanied by his wife, presents a souvenir to the owner representative of Contentment.
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Photo 9:
Managing Director of the Oriental Watch Holdings Limited Mr Dennis Yeung Him Kit presents a souvenir to trainer John Size.
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Photo 10:
Executive Director of the Oriental Watch Holdings Limited Mr Alain Lam Hing Lun, accompanied by his wife, presents a souvenir to jockey Joao Moreira.
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Photo 11:
Group photo after the presentation ceremony of the Oriental Watch Sha Tin Trophy.
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Photo 12:
Chairman of the Oriental Watch Holdings Limited Dr Yeung Ming Biu, accompanied by his wife, presents a prize of HK$2,000 and a delicate watch to the Stables representative responsible for Harbour Master (middle), the best turned out horse in the Oriental Watch Sha Tin Trophy.
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