By Michael Cox
Red Lion delivered a dramatic upset in the G1 FWD Champions Mile but the horse's famous owner Ron Arculli endured a nervous wait after his horse crossed the line a short-head in front of race favorite Voyage Bubble.
Voyage Bubble's jockey James McDonald lodged an objection of alleged interference in the closing stages and stewards deliberated for more than 15 minutes before declaring Red Lion the winner.
Arculli, Hong Kong Jockey Club chairman between 2002 and 2006 and former head of the Hong Kong Exchange, was a relieved man at the presentation ceremony, even if winning trainer John Size was assuring all would be well.
When asked if he was confident the objection would be overruled, he told The Standard: "Yes, there was nothing in it."
Red Lion benefitted from a beautiful front-running ride by Hugh Bowman, who rated the 90-to-one shot to perfection through the middle stages and then fought furiously over the closing stages.
The loss ended Voyage Bubble's four-race winning streak and gave visiting rider McDonald another agonizing narrow defeat on a Hong Kong-trained horse following two heart-breaking losses on Romantic Warrior in the Middle East.
BMW Hong Kong Derby runner-up My Wish showed he has a future at the top level with a grinding fourth-placed finish after racing near the speed.
Australian visitors Royal Patronage and Mr Brightside were disappointing, finishing second last and last respectively.
