28 Apr 2007
Cambridge Stud owner Sir Patrick Hogan was cheering trainer
John Moore (pictured) and jockey Mick Kinane for one feature at Sha Tin in Hong Kong tonight and cursing him in another.
Moore and Kinane had a magical night when picking up both big events, the $US1.8 million Gr I Audemars Piguet QE II Cup with Viva Pataca and the Gr I $US1 million Champions Mile with outsider, Able One.
Sir Patrick was in the camp of Vengeance Of Rain, a son of Zabeel, in the QE II Cup and though the Hong Kong champion tried valiantly he had to settle for second, a length and three-quarters behind Viva Pataca.
But one race earlier Hogan was celebrating the win of Able One, a gelding he bred in partnership with his wife, Lady Justine Hogan.
Able One, who was well rated in front by Kinane, is a four-year-old son of Cape Cross and the Hogans' Danehill mare Gardenia.
Able One is a brother to Florilegium, a winner of five races, including the Listed Counties Challenge Stakes, and the Hogans sold a half-brother by Stravinsky for $60,000 at this year's National Yearling Sales.
The Hogans aren't the only New Zealanders connected to Able One.
Janine Dunlop's Phoenix Park sold Able One as a yearling at the Select Session at Karaka for $190,000 to Graeme Sanders and later resold him on behalf of Sanders at the 2004 Ready To Run Sale at Karaka for $270,000 to Taupo bloodstock agent, Paul Beamish.
Able One began his career in Sydney, winning his debut over 1250 metres, after which he headed to Hong Kong where he has had 10 starts for four wins and two placings.
His leadup form to the Champions Mile included a fourth to the Paul O'Sullivan-trained Vital King (formerly Izzat) in the Gr I Hong Kong Derby.
Vital King was an unplaced runner in tonight's QEII Cup as the two previous Hong Kong Derby winners fought out the finish.
Viva Pataca (GB), a son of Marju (who stood briefly in NZ), recorded his third group one success when coming with a strong run from back in the field to defeat the two favourites Vengeance Of Rain and Admire Moon.
Viva Pataca won the Gr I Hong Kong Derby last year, 12 months after Vengeance Of Rain took the feature, and he later took the Gr I Hong Kong Champions and Chater Cup.
Viva Pataca went into tonight's race with a second behind Vengeance Of Rain in the Gr I Hong Kong Gold Cup last month.
Also successful on the card tonight was the Paul O'Sullivan-trained Medic Power (by Bertolini) and Lucky Me, a New Zealand-bred three-year-old half-brother by Chief Bearhart to Danacourt.