Time Warp ridden by Zac Purton and trained by Tony Cruz won the 2017 HK$25m G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Cup (2,000 m).

Time Warp bowled along in front for almost the entire race and then sprinted away from the pack after the turn in what was a truly impressive display of brave front running for a Group 1 race.

Werther was second two and a quarter lengths behind but Time Warp was still full of running at the end and was the dominant horse throughout the entire race. Neorealism was third with Staphanos fourth. Time Warp was turning around a neck defeat to Werther in the G2 BOCHK Wealth Management Jockey Club Cup.

Great Racehorses editor Robert Bishop commented “This race was run to suit Time Warp’s favoured style of bowling along in front from the start of the race and then challenging the others to a sprint finish. The 2,000 metres was ideal for him and Zac Purton gave him a cool ride and pressed the accelerator at exactly the right time. He can build up quite a fast cruising speed and to beat Sha Tim specialist Werther by over two lengths is a fine achievement by Time Warp”.

It was a day of records for both Tony Cruz and Zac Purton as Tony added to the two LONGINES Hong Kong Cup wins of California Memory in 2011 and 2012 and Zac Purton completed his grand slam of all four LONGINES Hong Kong International Races. Purton’s LONGINES International Races following Ambitious Dragon’s 2012 win in the Mile, Dominant’s win in the Vase in 2013 and Aerovelocity’s first Sprint success in 2014.

Time Warp’s three previous attempts in Group company had yielded a third and two seconds

He was previously trained in Newmarket by Sir Mark Prescott, who was fittingly at Sha Tin.

The six-strong European challenge failed to play a serious part in the finish, with Poet’s Word the best of the sextet when running on for sixth after being seven-wide turning into the straight.

Great Racehorses editor Robert Bishop added “This has been a fine day for the HKJC with Time Warp beating Werther in a textbook example of brave front running and wonderful globetrotter Highland Reel winning the Vase for a second time”.

Great Racehorses readers can relive the 2017 LONGINES Hong Kong Cup at:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XCtiNpkYXOA