Viva Pataca was made odds on?!?!?
From HKJC
http://www.hkjc.com/english/news/news_2008012017963.htm
Good Ba Ba dazzles in Stewards' Cup cruise
20 January 2008
One international champion reaffirmed his status as Hong Kong's best miler and a new name shot to Derby favouritism on a terrific Group 1 mile double-header at Sha Tin on Sunday.
If anything, Good Ba Ba improved on the performance that earned a narrow victory in the Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Mile last month in the HK$8m Citi Stewards' Cup, the first leg of the Citi Triple Crown. Half an hour earlier, Helene Mascot made a winning local debut in the Mercedes-Benz Hong Kong Classic Mile, also worth HK$8m.
Good Ba Ba's length and a quarter victory from Floral Pegasus was unquestionably the highlight of the day, however, and it enhanced his status as one of the best milers in the world.
Just eight runners went to post in a race that was widely billed as a match between Good Ba Ba and Viva Pataca, surprisingly backed into odds-on favouritism despite dropping back to a distance short of his best.
The early tempo was sedate with the market leaders quietly ridden at the tail of the field. But when they swung for home Good Ba Ba let rip with a scalding turn of foot that left Viva Pataca chasing shadows and soon he overhauled Floral Pegasus with over 100m to race.
"I've never seen a miler who can relax off the pace and kick home in 22 seconds like he does. He's something special. I'd say that run was even better than winning the international mile because he didn't idle in front like he can do. He kept going all the way to the line and he looks to have improved," winning trainer Andreas Schutz said.
Good Ba Ba is likely to have his next start in the Queen's Silver Jubilee Cup, the final leg of the Champion Sprint Series on March 16, to set up the prospect of a fascinating clash with the world's leading sprinter, Sacred Kingdom.
"There is no horse in Hong Kong with the same kind of acceleration as Good Ba Ba - except for Sacred Kingdom. We'll see who's best if they meet each other," Schutz added.
March 16 is also the date of the Mercedes-Benz Hong Kong Derby and Helene Mascot, trained by Tony Cruz, looks sure to figure prominently in the most prestigious event on the domestic programme judged on his tenacious success in the Mercedes-Benz Hong Kong Classic Mile.
Making his Hong Kong bow, Helene Mascot raced close to the pace under Felix Coetzee and ground down outsider Horace's Choice inside the final strides to score by a neck. It was the first time for a horse to land a local Gr.1 on its HK debut since Firebolt won the Centenary Sprint Cup in 2002.
Fearless ran third with Green Birdie in fourth. Race favourite Never Look Back set the early pace but weakened in the stretch to finish ninth.
"He travelled well, we had a nice prominent position and he fought on exceptionally well in the finish. Horace's Choice went away on us at the 200m but I always felt that we were going to catch up with him," Coetzee said of the colt who raced as Salford Mill last year in England where he won a Listed Race prior to finishing sixth in the Epsom Derby.
"I think he can improve but I'll leave that side of it to Tony because he is so good at getting them spot on for the big day. Not many can come in here from overseas and win first up, never mind win a Gr.1 so he's a very exciting horse.
"It feels already that the distance of 1800m in the Derby Trial and 2000m in the Derby is just what he wants," Coetzee summed up.
Allied to their winning cheque of HK$4.56m, Helene Mascot's owners also netted an extra HK$600,000 as part of the 'First Win Bonus' for horses that win in Class 1 or higher in its first season locally.