Happy Zero wins in Hong Kong

Happy Zero took full advantage of the absence of Sacred Kingdom to land the $580,000 Queen's Silver Jubilee Cup at Sha Tin on Sunday. A half-hour later Super Satin proclaimed himself the best 4-year-old in Hong Kong by taking the $2 million Hong Kong Derby.

Trained by John Moore, the 4-5 Happy Zero rallied under Darren Beadman from fifth in the Group 1 Queen's Silver Jubilee Cup to lead approaching the quarter pole, then outdueled Fellowship by a short head, getting the seven furlongs on good ground in 1:21.83. A 5-year-old Australian-bred son of the Danehill stallion Danzero, Happy Zero had been just a half-length second to Good Ba Ba in the Hong Kong Mile on Dec. 7 before finishing 1 1/2 lengths third to Sacred Kingdom in the six-furlong Chairman's Sprint Prize three weeks ago. With Good Ba Ba headed to the Dubai Duty Free and Sacred Kingdom to the Takamatsunomiya Kinen, his big nemeses were both out of the way. Happy Zero will go next in the Champions Mile at Sha Tin on April 25, after which Moore is considering him for a trip to Royal Ascot and the six-furlong Golden Jubilee Stakes.

The 11-2 Super Satin made steady progress from 10th at the half-mile pole in the Hong Kong Derby, ultimately wearing down Super Pistachio near the line to prevail by a head in the 1 1/4-mile Group 1 contest for 4-year-olds. The previously undefeated Brave Kid was third, a length farther back, with the Frankie Dettori-ridden Beauty Flash fourth, beaten by 1 3/4 lengths altogether. The time for the race was 2:03.59.

Trained by Casper Fownes and ridden by Doug Whyte, Super Satin has now won five of his last six starts in Hong Kong, three of those victories having come at Happy Valley. Last time, he was narrowly beaten in the 1 1/8-mile Hong Kong Derby Trial by King Dancer, who could only manage fifth on Sunday. By Danehill Dancer, Super Satin is a New Zealand-bred gelding. Plans for his next race have not yet been made.