While Dwayne Dunn and David Hayes team up for an early double, the day went close to being huge for the duo. Their representative Helene Vitality, missed the Group One Hong Kong Gold Cup by a mere head.

Songs of the Sun gave Hayes and Dunn an early winner when the two-year-old son of Hennessy proved a bit too good in the Cruise Control Plate over 1000 metres.

In an interesting result former Australian juvenile Anabatik (Anabaa) ran a close second, while Wyndam Easy (Shane Dye) was third.

Songs of the Sun is the first foal of the former above average Bluebird mare Shigeru Magic Lisa.

Dunn and Hayes were back in the winner's stall after the second race when Salut Beaute took the Deauvill Handicap (1000m) in another close finish.

The New Zealand bred performer by Bin Ajwaad beat Bacchus by a head, while Good Time For All finished third.

It was rather ironic that Dunn, who also finished the day with a second, two thirds and a fourth, would take riding honours on the same weekend as the Kangaroo Island Cup Carnival in South Australia. Dunn spent many of his early years on the Island before kicking off his his riding career at Ceduna. Ironically, at yesterday's Port Lincoln race meeting the trainer who gave Dunn his first ride, Trevor Trenowden, took training honours himself with a double, a great achievement as he only had runners in two races!

Dunn, who was reprimanded twice during the day, has now ridden 23 winners and he is quickly closing in on the top five. He is currently in sixth place, now just two winners behind the Robbie Fradd. Fradd is currently banned from riding in Hong Kong.

Meanwhile, Hayes edged his way closer to the training premiership leader Tony Cruz. Cruz retains a four win buffer after training one winner (Medic Corps) on the card.

John Size has consolidated his place in the top five where he currently has 26 winners from 126 runners, while Geoff Lane has moved to fifteenth place with his season tally of wins now increasing to 12.

The early Australian domination continued in race three when Shane Dye rode home the John Size trained My Favourite to win the Gold Belt Handicap (1600m).

A kiwi bred by Danasinga, My Favourite defeated Song for Szesze by two and a quarter lengths. Nice Memories was a nose away in third place.

Former brilliant Melbourne jockey Geoff Lane was also among the winning trainers. His first winner came in race five when Mick Kinane booted home Thank Heavens to victory. Dunn could manage only third in the same event.

Lane's double was completed in the final race when Olivier Doleuze won on Rebel Leader. The British bred galloper is now the winner of his past two starts.

It was a big day for the Australasian bred performers. Four of the ten winners were bred in Australia. They were Songs of the Sun (Hennessy-Shigeru Magic Lisa), Medic Corps (Mukaddamah-Given Thought), Halo King Prawn (Danehill-Emporium) and Smart Winner (Ideal Planet-My Foolish Heart). New Zealand supplied two winners - Salut Beaute (Bin Ajwaad-My First Star) and My Favourite (Danasinga-Aer Linges).

The next Hong Kong race meeting will take place at Happy Valley on Wednesday. Shane Dye has a full book of eight rides, while Dwayne Dunn and Steven King both have four.

John Size leads the way in the training ranks with five runners as compared to David Hayes (three) and Geoff Lane (two).

PICS - Quentin Lang.

Home -- About Greg -- Older Stories -- The Virtual FormGuide