The Derek Cruz-trained Good Ba Ba proved too strong for his rivals on Sunday in the coveted HK$15million Group 1 Hong Kong Mile (1600m) at Sha Tin Racecourse when he won for an unprecedented third successive year.
Star local miler Good Ba Ba overcame an awkward barrier draw from gate nine to defeat runner-up and odds-on favourite Happy Zero by a half length in a smart 1:34.60 seconds, with the Paul O?Sullivan-trained Fellowship a neck back for an all Hong-Kong trifecta.
It was a sensational finish with seven-year-old Good Ba Ba, ridden by French jockey Olivier Doleuze, pulling out an impressive late burst of acceleration down the centre of the track, which secured the hat-trick.
The only Australian contender, the John O?Shea-trained Racing To Win, ran a dismal 13th beating home only one other horse.
2009 Hong Kong Mile Results:
Placing |
Horse |
Jockey |
| 1 | GOOD BA BA |
O Doleuze |
| 2 | HAPPY ZERO |
D Bean |
| 3 | FELLOWSHIP |
Z Purton |
| 4 | EGYPTIAN RA |
F Coetzee |
| 5 | FERNELEY |
K Fallon |
| 6 | CONFRONT |
R Moore |
| 7 | ALEXANDROS |
L Dettori |
| 8 | ABLE ONE |
B Prebble |
| 9 | SWEET HEARTH |
G Mosse |
| 10 | GRIS DE GRIS |
T Thulliez |
| 11 | SLIGHT WINNER |
D Whyte |
| 12 | DUFF |
F Berry |
| 13 | RACING TO WIN |
H Bowman |
| 14 | PRESSING |
N Callan |
