2010 Hong Kong Cup(G1) Snow Fairy

12/12/2010 Sha Tin (HK)
THE CATHAY PACIFIC HONG KONG CUP
HK$ 20,000,000.00
Group One - 2000 Metres (Winning Time: 2.02.96)

13. SNOW FAIRY (R Moore) 2.02.96
6. IRIAN (B Prebble) 2.03.03
8. PACKING WINNER (O Doleuze) 2.03.23
1. VISION D'ETAT (O Peslier) 2.03.24
10. PLANTEUR (L Dettori) 2.03.27
4. SUPER SATIN (D Whyte) 2.03.31
3. CIRRUS DES AIGLES (F Blondel) 2.03.32
11. STACELITA (C Lemaire) 2.03.38
12. REGGANE (G Mosse) 2.03.51
9. SUPER PISTACHIO (F Coetzee) 2.03.53
7. SRI PUTRA (P Robinson) 2.03.56
5. GLASS HARMONIUM (C Williams) 2.03.58
2. COLLECTION (D Beadman) 2.03.75

SNOW FAIRY
Sire: Intikhab
Dam: Woodland Dream

Snow Fairy charges late to take Hong Kong Cup

Jockey Ryan Moore thought dual European classic winner Snow Fairy had too much to do turning for home to capture the $2,515,507 Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Cup (HK-G1) on Sunday at Sha Tin Racecourse.

Instead, the Intikhab filly displayed a remarkable burst of speed and power to reel in the leaders in the final furlong and drive gamely to win the centerpiece of the Hong Kong International Races by a neck over Irian.

The win was her fourth at the top level this season to go along with victories in the Investec Epsom Oaks (Eng-G1), the Darley Irish Oaks (Ire-G1), and Queen Elizabeth II Commemorative Cup (Jpn-G1) for trainer Ed Dunlop and Austrian-based owner-breeder Cristina Patino's Anamoine Ltd.

"At the top of the bend, I thought I had no chance," Moore said. "But, fortunately, they just came back to me. She's a machine really. She has such a brilliant turn of foot. She did what we thought she could, and she surpassed it."

With virtually no pace throughout, Snow Fairy, the 3-to-2 favorite, found herself behind 12 of her 13 challengers as the field entered the straight but found another powerful gear when asked by Moore to overtake the field and prevail in the final strides, covering 2,000 meters (9.94 furlongs) in 2:02.96 on turf rated as good.

Last year's winner, four-time Group 1 winner Vision d'Etat, also finished with a rush but could not overtake third-place finisher Packing Winner and finished fourth.