Time Warp lifts Hong Kong Cup | Beauty Generation lands Mile | Mr Stunning claims Sprint
A review of the rest of the action from Hong Kong as Time Warp won the Cup, Beauty Generation won the Mile and Mr Stunning claimed Sprint honours.
Poet's Word fared best of the European challengers in sixth as Time Warp made every yard of the running win the Longines Hong Kong Cup at Sha Tin.
Time Warp, who was previously trained in Britain by Sir Mark Prescott, was given a fine front-running ride by Zac Purton, setting what appeared to be just a steady pace through the early stages.
The Aidan O'Brien-trained Deauville was settled in fifth on the rail by Ryan Moore, with Harry Dunlop's Robin Of Navan racing alongside him and while both tried to challenge, they fell away in the straight as Time Warp pushed on again.
Local favourite Werther tried his best to reel in Time Warp, but the winner had flown and Werther had to be happy with second while Neorealism, who never settled, was third.
Poet's Word had to race wide round the bend and he tried to challenge down the middle of the track but just could not find the necessary acceleration and kept on for sixth.
O'Brien's other runner, War Decree, was always off the pace while Andrew Balding's Blond Me got pushed back to last at the start and could never mount a challenge.
Purton said of the winner: "He's got a high cruising speed and he can kick off that."
Andrea Atzeni, rider of Poet's Word, thought the ground may have been against his mount.
He said: "We were forced wide into the straight and he maybe found the ground quicker than ideal."
Bruce Raymond, racing for Poet's Word's owner Saeed Suhail, added: "The ground was faster than he likes and he's better over a mile and a half, but he's a very nice horse to look forward to."
Oisin Murphy was not too downhearted after Blond Me's effort and said: "It wasn't her day but she's had a great season."
War Decree's rider Seamie Heffernan added: "He shows us a lot at home but is yet to show it on the track."
Lancaster Bomber and Roly Poly failed to make their presence felt as Beauty Generation won the Hong Kong Mile at Sha Tin.
Aidan O'Brien's runners were partnered by Ryan Moore and Seamie Heffernan respectively, but they made little impact as the John Moore-trained winner powered home.
Derek Leung had his mount smartly away, managing to tack over to the rail from his mid-field draw to set the pace as both the Ballydoyle runners were deep in the pack.
Beauty Generation was still in control with two furlongs to run and although Western Express and Helene Paragon tried to challenge, the winner kept finding for pressure.
Lancaster Bomber made some late headway, eventually running on into fifth but Roly Poly struggled up the straight and finished last while David Simcock's Lightning Spear was also unplaced.
Leung said: "I'm very, very happy, the horse ran very well."
Both Moore and Heffernan felt the race had perhaps not panned out in their favour.
Moore said: "I got a reasonable break and position, but I didn't have a lot of room when I needed it."
Heffernan added: "It was always going to be tricky from her draw on the outside and that's the way it panned out unfortunately."
Mr Stunning led home a one-two for trainer John Size in the Longines Hong Kong Sprint at Sha Tin.
Partnered by Nash Rawiller, Mr Stunning maintained a watching brief in third through the early stages of the six-furlong heat as Once In A Moon and Peniaphobia blazed an early trail.
Once In A Moon soon dropped back, leaving Peniaphobia in front with a couple of furlongs to run, but when Rawiller gave the signal, Mr Stunning quickly assumed control.
His stablemate D B Pin finished with a real flourish on his outside, but Mr Stunning held on to the win with Blizzard third.
Rawiller told www.racing.com: "He's travelled nicely, the speed was on but it wasn't what I expected, I expected three or four to go a bit more than they did.
"I beat my good mate Olly (Olivier Doleuze on D B Pin) and it's been a long time coming this one in Hong Kong, so it means a lot.
"I've got the family here and it doesn't get much better to be honest."
French challenger Signs Of Blessing was the only European raider and he cut little ice while Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint winner Stormy Liberal failed to show his best in the hands of British champion Silvestre de Sousa.
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