By Alan Carasso
Just shy of one year to the day that he belied long odds to finish third in the G1 Prix Jean Prat, Helene Paragon (Fr) (Polan {Fr}) capped off a progessive Classic campaign in Hong Kong with an effort that stamps him as clearly one to keep track of when the new season begins in two months. A debut winner in Spain in August 2014, the former Sir Andrew hit the board in four of six tries in France and finished a meritorious fifth to Make Believe (GB) (Makfi {GB}) in the G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains ahead of his Jean Prat effort. A solid fifth in the Hong Kong Derby Mar. 20, he was exiting a handy first black-type success under 119 pounds in the Premier Plate H. and was odds-on in this closing day feature, despite having to tote top weight of 133. Settled at the rear early by Joao Moreira, Helene Paragon pinched all sorts of ground on the circle to race just behind the speed turning in. Held up momentarily in upper stretch, he burst through at the fence and threw in a final 400m in a smashing :22.21 to defeat his stablemate and chief market rival Joyful Trinity (Ire) (Zanzibari) by 2 1/4 decisive lengths as the 4-5 favorite (VIDEO). “Helene Paragon, what an exciting find to get out of Spain,” trainer John Moore told South China Morning Post. “He carried weight and accelerated like a really high class horse today to put them to the sword and he will come back to a preparation aimed at the [G1 Longines] Hong Kong Mile. He's a colt but I don't think we need to geld him–he's doing everything right and Joao was really upbeat about him.”
Helene Paragon (Fr), c, 4, Polan (Fr)–High Zaff (GB), by High Chaparral (Ire). Sha Tin, 7-10, Sha Tin Trophy H. (C1) (£235k/€279k), 1600mT, 1:33.33 (new class record). B-Angel Jordan Torres. *SW-HK & G1SP-Fr.
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