The Japanese gang-tackled Saturday’s Group 1 The Longines Hong Kong Cup (2000m) at Sha Tin with three outstanding chances and they duly finished first, second and fourth in the days feature.
It was the outsider of the trio, the 5yo mare Normcore (JPN) who ambushed them in the final furlong under a perfectly timed ride by Zac Purton.
The Kiyoshi Hagiwara-trained daughter of Harbinger was three-quarters of a length too good for the defending champion Win Bright (JPN) (Stay Gold), who edged out Galileo’s magnificent world traveller Magical (IRE) for second.
The better fancied of the Japanese trio, Danon Premium (JPN) (Deep Impact), finished close-up in fourth.
“I wouldn’t say it was an unexpected result,” Purton said.
“I knew she was a good chance. We had a lovely gate, so we were going to get our chance. She was a bit keen in the run, and I was worried about that. She fought well. She had to dig, she found and showed heart.
“I have now won more international races than anyone else, so that tops it off.”
Normcore rarely contests anything other than the top-class races in Japan where she has proved to be competitive at the elite level. She captured the Group 1 Victoria Mile at Tokyo last year to add to a Group II win and a pair of Group III successes.
Her overall record stands at seven wins, a second and three thirds from 17 starts.
The grey is a half-sister to seven winners including the Bago filly Chrono Genesis the winner of the Group 1 Shuka Sho and Group 1 Takarazuka Kinen.
