Massive Sovereign wins Derby in record time

Michael Shum

Chinese trainers swept the top four places in the HK$26 million Group One BMW Hong Kong Derby, with Irish stayer Massive Sovereign, trained by Dennis Yip Chor-hong, snatching a spectacular win in the third and final leg of the Four-Year-Old Classic Series.

In a thrilling finish, Galaxy Patch and Ka Ying Generation, both trained by Pierre Ng Pang-chi, took second and third, respectively, while Chill Chibi, trained by Danny Shum Chap-shing, took fourth at Sha Tin Racecourse.

Massive Sovereign, ridden by Zac Purton, clocked the fastest time in the Derby - one minute and 59.85 seconds - since the race distance was changed to 2,000 meters in 2000. That bettered champion Golden Sixty's time of 2:00.15 minutes in 2020.

Massive Sovereign sat at the rear before gradually edging closer while tracking Helios Express, who was bidding for a clean sweep of the Four-Year-Old Classic Series after snaring both the Hong Kong Classic Mile (1,600m) and the Hong Kong Classic Cup (1,800m).

While Helios Express finished eighth, Massive Sovereign emerged from a chasing pack to stymie Andrea Atzeni's daring all-the-way bid on Ka Ying Generation, who swept to a five-length lead at the 400m mark. Weaving into clear running, Massive Sovereign responded strongly under Purton with a final sectional of 22.58 seconds to overhaul a courageous Ka Ying Generation while also defying Galaxy Patch, who clocked 22.40 seconds for the last 400m.

Yip, Hong Kong's champion trainer in the 2012/13 season, reveled in the most important achievement of his career.

"It's very exciting. The Derby for me is more important than the championship, but this one for my life is the big one," Yip said.

"He's a very special horse with a very good mind. The last 200m I was very nervous but I relied on Zac [Purton]. He is the champion jockey in Hong Kong and everything was good with the horse."

Yip also said he has already entered Massive Sovereign for the FWD Queen Elizabeth II Cup at the end of April. If he sees improvement there, he will look to go further.

"I'm very happy, it's amazing for my life. What a memory," Yip said.

Purton described securing the ride on Massive Sovereign as the fruit of several "sliding doors" as it was a "late pick-up ride into the race."

"I feel extremely honored and privileged to have found such a horse to win it. To win the race itself, it's the most prestigious in Hong Kong and I've had a frustrating run in this race and a frustrating season, so it's nice to get another big one," Purton said.

"When the leader was that far in front and [Ka Ying Generation] kept galloping - he didn't stop or give up - he might have tired a little bit but he didn't capitulate, so he made me earn it. I always thought I was going to get close, but how close you can't be sure," he added. "Once I got to the 200m, I could feel I had his measure."

michael.shum@singtaonewscorp.com