First up Silk Racing, who also race the Japanese Champion Horse of the Year Almond Eye (JPN), sent the Mejiro Tsubone trained Glory Vase (JPN) to the LONGINES Hong Kong International Race meeting at Sha Tin on Sunday, December 8th, and came away with an emphatic win by the Deep Impact four-year-old entire in the HK20m, Group 1 Longines Hong Kong Vase (2400m).
Glory Vase, with Hong Kong's leading jockey Joao Moreira up, went away from the field over the concluding stages to win by 3 1/2L over fellow Japanese runner Lucky Lilac (JPN) and Christophe Soumillon with the Hong Kong trained Exultant (IRE) and Zac Purton third.
Second up it was back to Japan and the 72st renewal of the ¥152,200,000, Grade 1 Asahi Hai Futurity (1600m) for two-year-old's at Hanshin on Sunday, December 15th, with the Noriyuki Hori trained Salios under Ryan Moore.
The favourite Salios won the Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes title and the Heart's Cry colt is now undefeated in three starts since his debut in June. To frank the win he won the race in a record 1:33.0, 0.3 second faster than the previous record set by Danon Premium in 2017.
Trainer Noriyuki Hori won his 12th JRA-Grade 1 title, his latest being the 2017 Takarazuka Kinen with Satono Crown. Ryan Moore who has been riding under a short-term license since November 16th won his eighth Grade 1 victory, his first since the 2017 Champions Cup with Gold Dream and second in the Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes after his victory with Asia Express in 2013.
Salios went into a nice spot from a good draw and he settled behind the leader who set a rapid pace, in fourth position and off the rails and outside a rival. Moore edged the colt closer to the front before the last turn as the field began to gather speed for the main straight. Salios took command at the head of the straight as the front runners began to tire and he was in full gear when Taisei Vision came from behind maintaining a clear lead right up to the finish for a 2-1/2L victory.
“He was a lovely horse. The track ran very fast, but he is a colt that is not short of pace and he was still very green on the turn so he should run even faster in the future. He is a big powerful colt and when I sat on him you get the impression that he is very strong already, but he should improve and be even better as he gets older being the size that he is and hopefully he will carry on,” said Moore.
The three starts and three wins for Silk Racing Co. Ltd have taken his career earnings to ¥111,449,000.
