Jake Stephens trained Alcopop has done Australia proud by finishing 3rd to local hope California Memory in the Group 1 Hong Kong International Cup 2000m. Craig Williams settled Alcopop towards the rear of the field in a pretty fast run race. The gelding was last rounding the home turn but Williams had given Alcopop a rail hugging run in the straight and finished strongly to grab 3rd behind California Memory, who won his second successive Hong Kong Cup.
Meanwhile Sea Siren could only finished 9th in the International Sprint 1200m behind the Japanese champion Lord Kanaloa, who broke the course record in winning the Group 1 Sprinters Stakes at Nakayama back in September.
The 2011 Melbourne Cup runner up Red Cadeaux had gone one better in the Hong Kong Vase 2400m after finishing 2nd to Dunaden last year. Red Cadeaux was fighting tooth and nail in the straight with Japanese runner Jaguar Mail and prevailed narrowly with race favourite Dunaden finishing 5th.
The Hong Kong Mile 1600m was won by Hong Kong Horse of the Year Ambitious Dragon, ridden by ex-patriot Aussie jockey Zac Purton.
By Owens Wong
