Vision d’Etat is champ

Hong Kong, Dec. 15: France’s Vision d’Etat streaked ahead of more favoured rivals to take the Hong Kong Cup on Sunday, handing its rider the most wins in the city’s international races.

Trained by Eric Libaud and ridden by Olivier Peslier, the four-year-old dominated the high-class field in the 20 million Hong Kong dollar (US$2.6 million) race, the highlight of the glittering Cathay Pacific International Races.

“He was a bit lazy down the backstretch but he behaves like this when he is at his best, like at Royal Ascot when he won the Prince of Wale’s Stakes in June this year,” a jubilant Peslier said after snatching the Cup.

“But this is what he does when he is relaxed and when he is in good form. I didn’t want to get to the lead too soon because I was worried he would try to stop but he kept fighting to the line today.”

The French jockey said the horse had some problems with its leg earlier. But after these were resolved, it just “kept running like a rabbit.”

Vision d’Etat showed an impressive burst of speed in the home straight, pulling wide from Hong Kong’s Collection and Britain’s Presvis, which came second and third respectively.

South Africa’s Eagle Mountain, the winner of the Cup last year, only managed fifth. The 2,000 metre (1.2 mile) race made Peslier the jockey with the most wins — a total of seven — in the meeting.