Dunaden wins Hong Kong Vase

HONG KONG, Dec. 11 (UPI) -- Dunaden backed up his win in last month's Melbourne Cup with a stretch-running victory in Sunday's $1.8 million Hong Kong Vase.

Local favorite Thumbs Up finished second and it was a dead heat for third and fourth involving Silver Pond and Red Cadeaux, who lost to Dunaden by a short nose in the Melbourne Cup.

Godolphin Racing's entrant, Campanologist, looked to have a chance in the final 50 yards but the door shut just as he was ready to make a move.

Dunaden, with Craig Williams back in the irons after missing the Flemington Racecourse fixture because of a suspension, got the 2,400 meters over good to firm going in 2:27.50.

The race went according to plan, Williams said.

"When we got the draw No. 3, it made our job easier," the Australian rider said. "We planned to stay close in a race that figured to be slowly run."

Dunaden, a 5-year-old, French-bred son of Nicobar, did just that. Staying in the middle of the pack until the second of the right-hand turns, he quickened when asked and won by 1 3/4 lengths.

Dunaden spent most of his year in France, running well in Group 2 and Group 3 events. He took the Group 3 Geelong Cup on Oct. 19 in a prep for the Melbourne Cup.

Winning trainer Mikel Delzangles said traveling with Dunaden is a pleasure since he "is really such a good horse with a great temperament." Asked about plans for the improving stayer, Delzangles said, "For the long term, nothing's decided yet. The short term? A holiday."

Dunaden now has nine wins from 29 lifetime starts and is 4-for-7 this year.