Hong Kong Vase History
Since it's first run in 1994, the Hong Kong Vase has been hallmarked by the brilliant performances of it's runners.
In 2002 Ange Gabriel from France won the race by 3/4 of a length to register a final time of 2:28.4 for the Hong Kong Vase and stopped an almost clean-sweep of the Hong Kong International Races titles by local horses. French horses have excelled in this 2,400m Group 1 race, a distance noted as a supreme test of endurance that only the fittest and strongest are capable of. In the 2002 Hong Kong Vase, four of the five top finishers were either trained in France, or had been conditioned there earlier in their careers.
The Hong Kong Vase is hotly contested by a wide field of horses. Entrants have come from six continents to compete in this race, and the race draws a wide variety of trainers and jockeys from all around the world.
The first running of the Hong Kong Vase was won by Red Bishop with a still record time of 2:25.1 for the race, and the 2,400m course. This win also holds the record for the best winning margin at 2 1/2 lengths. This is an amazing feat in a race that is usually decided by tight photo finishes.
Other great names to win the Hong Kong Vase were Stay Gold in 2001, Borgia in 1999, Indigeneous in 1998, Luso in 1997and 1996, and Partipral in 1995. Luso is the only horse to win the Hong Kong Vase twice.
One of the most spectacular runs of the Hong Kong Vase was in 1999, when there was only a length separating the first four finisher, Borgia, Bimbola, Sea Wave and Indigeneous. When the race was run, the entire field was onyl separated by 8 lengths. This close racing epitimizes what the Hong Kong Vase brings to the racing world today.
|
