Furore wins Hong Kong Derby as Waikuku finishes second

Furore, who was third in the Group 1 Rosehill Guineas in Australia in 2018, won Hong Kong’s top race for 4-year-olds in Sunday’s $2.29 million Hong Kong Derby at Sha Tin Racecourse.

Ridden by Hugh Bowman, who has become famous as the rider of the star Australian mare Winx, Furore (5-1) took the lead in the final furlong of the race at 1 1/4 miles and finished 1 1/4 lengths clear of Waikuku, the 9-10 favorite who closed from the rear in the field of 14.

Sunny Speed, an 86-1 outsider, finished third, while the well-regarded Dark Dream finished fourth, beaten 1 3/4 lengths.

Waikuku’s runner-up finish ended a four-race winning streak. The gelding had a slightly interrupted preparation for the Hong Kong Derby after a sore foot was diagnosed last week. Waikuku was cleared to run on Friday.

Furore is trained by Frankie Lor, who is having a career-best season in Hong Kong. Last December, Lor won two of the four Group 1 races on Hong Kong’s international day.

A New Zealand-bred gelding by Pierro, Furore was imported from Australia to Hong Kong last year. Furore lost his first two starts in Hong Kong before winning the Hong Kong Classic Mile on Jan. 27, the first of two leading prep races for the Hong Kong Derby.

Furore was later fourth in the Hong Kong Classic Cup on Feb. 17 behind stablemate Mission Tycoon, who finished 11th in the Hong Kong Derby.