Class Prevails in January Cup

Shouldering 133 pounds and giving weight all around as the highest-rated galloper in Wednesday's G3 January Cup H., Siu Pak Kwan's Eagle Way (More Than Ready) stormed down the center of the track and pegged back pacesetting The Golden Age (Fr) (My Risk {Fr}) to land the season's lone pattern event at the city circuit.

With Zac Purton at the controls for the first time, the blaze-faced chestnut settled in the latter third of the field with cover on the back of fellow Siu Pak Kwan colorbearer Dinozzo (Ire) (Lilbourne Lad {Ire}) as 4-year-old The Golden Way took them along at a decent gallop. Content to slipstream Dinozzo on the second turn, Eagle Way switched out widest and tossed in a final 400m sectional in a sparkling :22.12 to win cozily in the end. The Golden Way, last seen defeating Dinozzo over track and trip in the International Jockeys' Championship night finale Dec. 6, just held for second. It was the fourth win in six years in the race for trainer John Moore.

“Carrying top-weight in a Group 3 race in Hong Kong is extremely hard to do, so I had that in the back of my mind but he jumped well, we had a lovely run and he showed a really good turn-of-foot,” said Purton, who landed G1 Longines Hong Kong Cup atop Martin Siu's Time Warp (GB) (Archipenko).

The Golden Way was using this open test as a steppingstone to the restricted Hong Kong Classic Cup and will proceed to that 1800m test Feb. 18.

Eagle Way, who provided Moore with a landmark Australian Group 1 win as an owner in the 2016 Queesland Derby, added a victory in the G3 Queen Mother Memorial Cup H. last April. His build up to the International Races meeting was clouded by a lung infection and he could do no better than eighth to Highland Reel (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in the G1 Longines Hong Kong Vase (2400m).

Pedigree Notes:

One of nine winners for his dam, Eagle Way is out of a winning half-sister to GSP Big on Broadway (Aus) (Fusaichi Pegasus) and to SP La Viscomtessa (Aus) (Viscount {Aus}). His second dam is a full-sister to 1991 G1 Racing Post Trophy winner Seattle Ryhme (Seattle Dancer). A half-brother to the once-raced Wedgebrook (Aus) (Hinchinbrook {Aus}), Eagle Way is also kin to a yearling colt by Choisir (Aus) that sells through Segenhoe Stud as hip 437 during Thursday's second session of the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. Wedgetail Eagle foaled a full-sister to Eagle Way last Nov. 5. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

Wednesday, Happy Valley, Hong Kong
JANUARY CUP H.-G3, HK$3,000,000 (£282,866/€318,488/A$488,094/US$383,723), Happy Valley, 1-10, 3yo/up, 1800mT, 1:50.14, gd.
1–EAGLE WAY (AUS), 133, g, 5, by More Than Ready
1st Dam: Wedgetail Eagle (Aus) (SW-Aus, A$204,480), by Lure
2nd Dam: La Favorita, by Seattle Dancer
3rd Dam: Golden Rhyme (Ire), by Dom Racine (Fr)
(A$200,000 Ylg '14 INGEAS). O-Siu Pak Kwan; B-Segenhoe Thoroughbreds Australia Pty Ltd (NSW); T-John Moore; J-Zac Purton; HK$1,710,000. Lifetime Record: G1SW-Aus, G1SP-HK, 24-7-3-1, HK$10,793,410. *1/2 to Soaressa (Aus) (Twining), SW-Aus, A$204,480; Impressive Eagle (Aus) (Rubiton {Aus}), MSW & G1SP-Aus, A$305,675; and Assertive Eagle (Aus) (Danewin {Aus}), SW & MGSP-Aus, A$271,750. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–The Golden Age (Fr), 118, g, 4, My Risk (Fr)–Sikkim (Fr), by Linamix (Fr). O-Mr & Mrs Xiao Tan Ping; B-Bruno Plainfosse; T-Tony Cruz; HK$660,000.
3–Dinozzo (Ire), 123, g, 5, Lilbourne Lad (Ire)–Nisriyna (Ire), by Intikhab. (€44,000 Wlg '13 GOFNOV; €75,000 Ylg '14 GOFORB). O-Siu Pak Kwan; B-Swordlestown Little; T-John Size; HK$345,000.
Margins: 3/4, HF, 1 1/4. Odds: 8.10, 2.80, 7.10.
Also Ran: Marvel Hero (Ire), Pikachu (NZ), Citron Spirit (Ire), Packing Dragon (NZ), Harbour Master, Doyeni, General Sherman (Ire), Romantic Touch (Aus).
Click for the HKJC.com chart, PPs and sectional timing. VIDEO.