Agnes Digital beat Godolphin's Toubougg by a head to capture the Hong Kong Cup at Sha Tin today. Japan confirmed their status as one of the leading horseracing countries in the world by completing a clean sweep of all three of the Group One races at the meet, culminating in Agnes Digital's victory in the £1million showpiece event.
Frankie Dettori made all the running on the runner-up but Agnes Digital took control over the final furlong. However, Toubougg did not give up and almost snatched victory with one final surge near the line but Agnes Digital held on to take the race by a head in a dramatic finish which had the 70,000-strong crowd on its feet. Aiden O'Brien's Bach finished last of the 14 runners.
Despite the disappointment of missing out on taking the Cup after coming so close, Tobougg's trainer Saeed bin Suroor felt his charge had performed admirably. "He ran a great race. When the winner went past him he kept fighting back in tenacious style and was gaining again at the line. He will be a serious horse next season over races between 2000 and 2400 metres," he said.
Meanwhile, winning trainer Toshiaki Shirari has big plans for his star. "Our next race, if we are invited, will be the 2002 Dubai World Cup, I think. After that, we would like to run in either the Breeders' Cup Turf or the Breeders' Cup Classic in America," he said. "This has been a very special week for me. I think that from this point onward you will see many more Japanese horses competing in the international races."
Filed by Amanda Fennelly
