It was a case of the worst from the Best as Hong Kong's hopes of landing a second Japan Group One victory floundered in the chopped-up Nakayama racecourse in Tokyo yesterday. Wong Tang-ping's top-class sprinter Best Of The Best beat only one horse home in the 16-runner, 1,200-metre Sprinters Stakes and was never really in the race.
The $11 million race went to 40-1 outsider Daitaku Yamata from the 2-1 favourite Agnes World, with Black Hawk (9-1) a nose further back in third. With bracketing on the Hong Kong tote, the eventual winner was coupled with Masa Lucky. Two for the price of one, but a stunning result in both Japan and Hong Kong. There was nothing in the form to suggest such an upset.
Jockey Douglas Whyte had been hoping for a really good run from Best Of The Best, but admitted 24 hours before the race that a top three finish would do everyone proud. He said last night: 'He never ran his race but you can put it down 100 per cent to the ground. This was badly cut up and he hated it. I jumped out really well and I had to take him back.
'He had not run for six months which may have had a little bearing on it, but he was not in the race from a long way out and that was the ground. He was absolutely not comfortable in it.
'He was also coming downhill for the first time, but I think he would have handled that perfectly all right if it had not been for the ground. Of course, you can never be certain.'
Race favourite Agnes World ran up to form and there was no disgrace in finishing second which should see him in good shape for the Breeders' Cup Sprint next month in Kentucky, while Black Hawk ran his best race of the season to finish third. He was seeking a second successive victory in the race having touched off Agnes World by a neck last season.
