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Melbourne Hero Dunaden Picks the Vase at HK

By Racing Correspondent | 13 Dec 2011 |


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French raider Dunaden added another beautiful trophy to his collection which boasts of the prestigious Melbourne Cup, by winning the G1 Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Vase. Jockey Craig Williams who was serving a suspension had missed his ride on Dunaden in the Melbourne Cup but returned to partner Mikel Delzangles trainee at Sha Tin.

Dunaden was held up mid-field for a great part of the 2400 metres trip and gained momentum approaching the final furlong when Craig urged him to get into action. Thumbs Up also made headway and shot ahead to lead but found Dunaden’s final dash too hot to handle. Dunaden was a clear three parts of a length in front at the wire. Red Cadeaux who finished a close second to Dunaden in the Melbourne Cup dead-heated with Silver Pond for the third place.

An ecstatic Craig said: "This year has been amazing and Melbourne was just one of those things. The plan was to sit as close to the pace as possible and when I asked him to he set his sights on the bunny, his ears went back and he just took off.”
The winning trainer Mikel Delzangles who was over the moon by the success of Dunaden exclaimed, "I still can't believe it. If you had told me in May that we would win in Australia and Hong Kong I would never have believed you. He's got a great temperament and travels so well. He's happy wherever he is. He deserves a holiday now and I'm going to enjoy this before making plans."