Hong Kong Horse of the Year Werther
Photo: Hong Kong Jockey Club
New Zealand-bred Werther claimed the Hong Kong Horse of the Year award on Friday night. Hong Kong's standout four-year-old followed-up a thrilling victory in this year's BMW Hong Kong Derby with a stunning wide-margin triumph over elite international opponents in the Gr.1 Audemars Piguet QEII Cup, both at Sha Tin this spring.
John Moore's stable star ended his debut Hong Kong campaign with a record of three wins from six starts. The gelding, who races in the yellow and blue silks of owner Johnson Chen, ranks equal fourth in the latest edition of the LONGINES World's Best Racehorse Rankings with a rating of 124. That figure is thanks to the son of Tavistock's imperious four and a half-length AP QEII Cup win, in which he defeated star gallopers from Japan, Ireland, Australia and South Africa, as well as Hong Kong.
A close second to Sun Jewellery in the first two legs of the 2016 4YO Classic Series, the HKG1 Hong Kong Classic Mile and HKG1 Hong Kong Classic Cup (1800m), Werther came into his own when stepped up in distance to 2000m for his Derby and AP QEII Cup wins. The son of Tavistock is the fourth horse to have achieved the Derby/QEII double in the same year and those triumphs also clinched this season's Champion Middle-Distance Horse award, while the public voted him the season's Most Popular Horse with 39.3% of the vote.
"This is awesome. I can't believe it. I have to say I'm very fortunate. I'm very humbled and most privileged to be receiving this. Special thanks to trainer John Moore for his spearheading the team and engaging Hugh Bowman who rode beautifully for the BMW Hong Kong Derby and AudemarsPiguet Queen Elizabeth II Cup," said Chen.
Meanwhile Fabulous One (NZ) (Elusive City) received recognition as the season's Most Improved Horse. The Chris So-trained four-year-old started the campaign on a rating of 46 but five wins from eight starts saw him rocket 61 points up the rankings to end the term on a mark of 107.
The season's Champion Trainer and Champion Jockey awards, as well as the inaugural Tony Cruz Award given to the best homegrown rider, will be presented at Sunday's (10 July) season finale at Sha Tin. -HKJC
John Moore's stable star ended his debut Hong Kong campaign with a record of three wins from six starts. The gelding, who races in the yellow and blue silks of owner Johnson Chen, ranks equal fourth in the latest edition of the LONGINES World's Best Racehorse Rankings with a rating of 124. That figure is thanks to the son of Tavistock's imperious four and a half-length AP QEII Cup win, in which he defeated star gallopers from Japan, Ireland, Australia and South Africa, as well as Hong Kong.
A close second to Sun Jewellery in the first two legs of the 2016 4YO Classic Series, the HKG1 Hong Kong Classic Mile and HKG1 Hong Kong Classic Cup (1800m), Werther came into his own when stepped up in distance to 2000m for his Derby and AP QEII Cup wins. The son of Tavistock is the fourth horse to have achieved the Derby/QEII double in the same year and those triumphs also clinched this season's Champion Middle-Distance Horse award, while the public voted him the season's Most Popular Horse with 39.3% of the vote.
"This is awesome. I can't believe it. I have to say I'm very fortunate. I'm very humbled and most privileged to be receiving this. Special thanks to trainer John Moore for his spearheading the team and engaging Hugh Bowman who rode beautifully for the BMW Hong Kong Derby and AudemarsPiguet Queen Elizabeth II Cup," said Chen.
Meanwhile Fabulous One (NZ) (Elusive City) received recognition as the season's Most Improved Horse. The Chris So-trained four-year-old started the campaign on a rating of 46 but five wins from eight starts saw him rocket 61 points up the rankings to end the term on a mark of 107.
The season's Champion Trainer and Champion Jockey awards, as well as the inaugural Tony Cruz Award given to the best homegrown rider, will be presented at Sunday's (10 July) season finale at Sha Tin. -HKJC