Tastiera stamps his class on sparkling international field to land QEII Cup
Tastiera (Satono Crown) was triumphant on his return to Sha Tin as Japan’s 2023 Tokyo Yushun (Gr 1, 2400m) hero dominated a thrilling renewal of the QEII Cup (Gr 1, 2000m) at Sha Tin on Sunday.
The five-year-old showed his aptitude for top-class racing in Hong Kong when third to Romantic Warrior (Acclamation) in the Hong Kong Cup (Gr 1, 2000m) in December.
The local champion had won this contest for the last three years but sat it out this time, leaving Tastiera to stamp his class on a glittering international field for rider Damian Lane and trainer Noriyuki Hori.
Already a winner of the 2022 Hong Kong Vase (Gr 1, 2400m) aboard Win Marilyn (Screen Hero), Lane’s latest major Sha Tin strike was achieved in remarkably smooth circumstances.
Tastiera broke swiftly from gate ten and settled into fourth position in the back straight as New Zealand star El Vencedor (Shocking) carved out the early fractions under Zac Purton.
While Lane maintained a prominent position, fancied runners Goliath (Adlerflug), Liberty Island (Duramente), who would stumble and suffer a fatal injury in the latter stages of the race when weakening out of contention, and Prognosis (Deep Impact) were forced to settle further towards the rear in a steadily run race.
Tastiera travelled up strongly to the quarters of El Vencedor and Cap Ferrat (Snitzel) at the head of the home straight and soon skated into a clear lead.
He never looked like being caught and scored comfortably by a length and three-quarters, with Lane punching the air in delight after the line.
Prognosis, runner-up for the last two years for fellow Japanese trainer Mitsumasa Nakauchida, filled the same position again, while Bahrain’s Calif (Areion) produced an excellent effort to clinch third.
“Noriyuki Hori is an amazing conditioner of horses and this horse is just a star,” Lane said.
“It’s a great success for Carrot Farm. It’s just a privilege. It’s what it’s all about. I just feel privileged and lucky to be here on these days, let alone having great chances on these horses.
“It is what being a jockey is all about, competing in these big international carnivals. It’s very rewarding.”
While it was Lane’s first victory in the HK$28 million (approx. AU$5.6 million) race, it was Hori’s second after Neorealism’s (Neo Universe) success in 2017. It was Japan’s seventh win in the contest since 2002.
“I’m very, very grateful for all the support from the [Hong Kong] Jockey Club to travel to Hong Kong and give us a great opportunity to come over here,” Hori said.
“It’s been a while since my last runner in Hong Kong, but I’m very grateful to win today. In my stable, only Maurice won on his first trip to Hong Kong.
“Since Tastiera’s third in the Hong Kong Cup, we targeted this race considering he was suitable to the track conditions and change in environment.”
Hori confirmed Tastiera would likely return to avenge his Hong Kong Cup (Gr 1, 2000m) defeat in December, while adding of Lane: “Damian’s one of the greatest team members in our stable. We’ve had a relationship for a long time and he always gives us good feedback.”
Tastiera’s win prevented a clean sweep for the locals in three Group 1 races on Champions Day, with Ka Ying Rising scorching home in the Chairman’s Sprint Prize and Red Lion (Belardo) nailing Voyage Bubble (Deep Field) in the Champions Mile (Gr 1, 1600m).