Jack Dawling, Dubai
Hong Kong's brave attack on the Dubai World Cup meeting at Meydan Racecourse was marred by tragedy when Howdeepisyourlove suffered a fatal injury in the Group 1 Al Quoz Sprint (1,200 meters).
The John Size-trained sprinter traveled powerfully into the race as the 11-to-four favorite but clipped heels with a rival 500m from home, causing him to lose his stride and break down.
Howdeepisyourlove was swiftly pulled up by James McDonald and loaded into the horse ambulance for examination at Dubai Equine Hospital, where he was humanely euthanized.
"Near the 500 meters [Howdeepisyourlove] clipped the hindleg of another runner resulting in the gelding becoming unbalanced, as a result being eased out of the race and the rider dismounting," the stewards' report said.
"A post-race veterinary examination revealed the gelding to have subluxated its left-fore leg and was transported to the Dubai Equine Hospital for further examination. On further examination Howdeepisyourlove was humanely euthanized."
Howdeepisyourlove won six races from 28 starts, headlined by his G3 Bauhinia Sprint Trophy (1,000m) success and a pair of placings at the top level.
In the Group 1 contest down the Meydan straight, it was the George Boughey-trained Believing who led in the final strides and landed the spoils. The five-year-old mare was never in contention at Sha Tin in last year's G1 Chairman's Sprint Prize (1,200m), finishing 10 lengths behind Invincible Sage in ninth.
William Buick, who rode Believing for the first time, said his mount "really showed her toughness" to get her head in front at the line.
Hong Kong's first runner in the program had a race to forget as Sword Point failed to beat a rival home in the G2 Godolphin Mile on the dirt.
While the Frankie Lor Fu-chuen-trained gelding has thrived on the Sha Tin dirt this season, the six-year-old seemingly struggled throughout on the deeper Meydan surface.
"The jockey [McDonald] said he didn't like the kickback," Lor said after his galloper finished 46 lengths behind the eventual winner, Raging Torrent.
"In Hong Kong he can jump and go forward but it was his first time here and he just didn't like it at all."
jack.dawling@singtaonewscorp.com
Howdeepisyourlove, right, during his G3 Bauhinia Sprint Trophy success at Sha Tin on New Year's Day. HKJC
