Fifth BMW Hong Kong Derby for Moore as Werther triumphs

20/03/2016

The winning margin in this year’s HK$18 million HKG1 BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m) was a mere head, yet the race was not the type of close contest most had envisaged and that included winning trainer John Moore, who celebrated a second Derby quinella from the last three runnings, this time with the triumphant Werther and recurrent place-getter, Victory Magic. 

“It’s just amazing,” said the trainer, after welcoming back his record-tying fifth Derby winner. “We’ve pulled off the big one and we’ve pulled it off in a big way. I thought this was going to be a really close Derby, I didn’t expect the margin to be what it was between second and third. I reckoned there’d be a length between four or five of them. But the result in the end was conclusive.”

Werther and Victory Magic, in replicating the 2014 Moore one-two of Designs On Rome and Able Friend, drew two and three quarter lengths clear of the field, with the late-closing Giovanni Canaletto staying on for third, three quarters of a length ahead of fourth-placed Consort, with the game Helene Paragon, another Moore runner, a further short-head back in fifth.

“The horses have peaked at the right time,” continued Moore. “Werther did everything right leading into the race and the 2000 metres wasn’t a worry, whereas it was to others. Victory Magic, we knew he was a prolific place-getter and he’s run out of his shoes today. I thought he was going to run past when he really got into him in the straight.”

Werther, already proven at beyond 2000m prior to his import from Australia, went into this afternoon’s four-year-old classic, his fourth Hong Kong start, having finished a narrow second behind Sun Jewellery in both the HKG1 Hong Kong Classic Mile and HKG1 Hong Kong Classic Cup (1800m) this year. Sun Jewellery was a never dangerous seventh today.

“I didn’t really put him to the grind for the Classic Cup, he wasn’t cherry ripe, because the aim was always the Derby, so I was pleased with his Classic Cup run,” said Moore. “We just put the finishing touches to him and when my retained riding boy, Thomas Yeung, got off him and said ‘he’s never been better,’ I knew I had him peaking at the right time.”

Werther was among the sharpest from the gates and jockey Hugh Bowman, ever-present during the gelding’s Hong Kong career to date, had to grapple him back as the field of 14 careered into the first turn. By the time the expected pace-setter King Genki found the lead entering the backstretch, Bowman had his mount settled in a handy tracking position, one spot off the rail.

“I was a bit worried in the early stages – I let him stride out of the barriers and then he wanted to get on with it,” said Bowman, for whom this was a first G1 win outside of Australia. “I just had a little bit of a wrestle but once he settled into a rhythm, from about the mile, we were in business then and it was just a case of waiting until I got a bit of room and the horse certainly didn’t let me down.”

Switched out on the turn for home, Werther rolled past the toiling King Genki and Eastern Express – an all too brief leader – and powered for home. His run was matched by Victory Magic – second in four of his previous five starts and yet to pass the post first – who arrived at the fore off a dream rail run under Zac Purton. But once the pair came together for a close-quarters battle at around the 200m mark, there was only one winner. Werther dug in and Bowman celebrated. The winning time was 2m 01.76s.     

“I threw everything at my fella but the other horse just wanted it that bit more,” said Purton after the sixth choice in the betting had lost out to the 3.3 favourite.

For Bowman, it was a standout moment in an already excellent career. “This is my first Group 1 winner outside of Australia and it gives me great pleasure that it’s here in Hong Kong – it’s the highlight of my career,” he said.

Moore is now looking towards open company and the G1 Audemars Piguet Queen Elizabeth II Cup at the course and distance on 24 April, the same path he trod successfully with Designs On Rome.

“He’ll go QEII for sure,” he said. “He’ll 100 percent be able to mix it with those horses. We’ll see what the Japanese send over but from my point of view he’s another star in the making. He’s done everything right, so let’s progress on to the QEII and the Champions & Chater Cup (2400m).”

Bowman believes Werther might thrive in elite all-age company, although he has reservations about the Tavistock gelding’s suitability for a solid-tempo 2400m race.

“I think we’ve got a top-class mile or 10 furlongs horse on our hands,” said the Australian. “I thought today’s pace was moderate, to say the least, and if he got into a fast-paced 2000 meters then we’d see the best of him. I do have a doubt about a mile and a half but I’m sure John might be able to work his magic if he wants to go that direction.”

Werther joins Designs On Rome (2014), Collection (2009), Viva Pataca (2006) and Makarpura Star (1995) as Moore-trained Derby winners. The trainer’s quintet matches the five achieved by Brian Kan.