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Irish Import Massive Sovereign Tops Locals in HK Derby

Massive Sovereign, a latecomer from Ireland, rallied to defeat the best of the locals in the Hong Kong Derby March 24 at Sha Tin Racecourse, running his way into a spot in the season’s remaining top-level races.

Massive Sovereign, previously trained in Ireland by Aidan O’Brien, closed a massive gap in the stretch run to catch the fading leader in the final strides in just his second start in Hong Kong.

The No Nay Never  gelding burst onto the scene in Hong Kong with an attention-getting victory while making his debut at the Derby distance of 2,000 meters (about 1 1/4 miles) March 3 off a six-month layoff.

That effort, unusual for Hong Kong, was enough to convince trainer Dennis Yip to try Massive Sovereign in the Derby against rivals who had fought their way through Hong Kong’s Four-Year-Old Classic series to reach the big race the hard way.

That decision taken, Yip found Hong Kong champion jockey Zac Purton looking for a ride in the race after a series of complications bumped him from some other likely mounts.

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It all looked for naught as 40-1 chance Ka Ying Generation raced off to a massive lead and looked home free with 200 meters to go. Massive Sovereign was still some 7 lengths back and just clearing traffic.

It was not until the final 50 yards that the outcome seemed in doubt. Massive Sovereign just hit the front a nose in front of fellow closer Galaxy Patch with Ka Ying Generation settling for third. Helios Express, winner of the first two legs of the series, could only muster an eighth-place showing.

Yip said the win eclipsed his training championship in the 2012-13 season.

“It’s very exciting,” he said. “I think the Derby for me is more important than the championship. This one, for my life, is the big one.

“The last 200 meters I was very nervous. But I rely on Zac. He is the champion jockey in Hong Kong and everything was good with the horse.”

Purton said he wasn’t so confident while chasing Ka Ying Generation down the stretch.

“When the leader was that far in front, and that horse keeps galloping … he doesn’t stop or give up. He might have tired a little bit but he didn’t capitulate, so he made me earn it,” Purton said. “I always thought I was going to get close but how close, you can’t be sure. Once I got to the 200 meters, I could feel I had his measure.”

The Derby has been a bit of a jinx for Purton, with only one previous winner.

“I feel extremely honored and privileged to have found such a horse to win it,” he said. “To win the race itself, it’s the most prestigious race in Hong Kong and I’ve had a frustrating run in this race and a frustrating season, so it’s nice to get another big one—and probably the biggest one among the local races overall.”

Yip now is looking to even bigger things for Massive Sovereign in the QE II Cup (G1) at the end of April at Sha Tin, likely against some talented international raiders.

“I’ve already entered him,” Yip said. “I will see how the horse pulls up. If he’s good and he improves, I will go this way.”

Over and above the victory, Yip might be encouraged by the fact Massive Sovereign completed the Derby in race-record time of 1:59.85. That broke the record of 2:00.15 set in 2020 by Golden Sixty, who went on to win three straight Hong Kong Horse of the Year titles.

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