Castle Guest is driven out by Shane Foley to beat Xebec© Photo Healy Racing
Castle Guest bounced back to his best as he recorded his third course and distance win when taking the Hong Kong Owners Association Rated Race.
Sent off a 9/1 chance the successful Mick Halford trained gelding was settled in third by Shane Foley.
He was ridden to challenge on the outer from the two furlong pole and boxed in the 9/10 favourite Salthouse in the process.
He got to the front inside the final furlong and kept on well close home to score by half a length in the colours of Paul Rooney. Xebec (9/2), who attempted to make all, had to settle for second under Declan McDonogh for John Oxx while Camakasi was a further length and a quarter back in third.
The aforementioned Salthouse was sent off the well-backed 9/10 favourite and he finished fourth under Kevin Manning for Jim Bolger.
Mick Halford said afterwards: "They went very fast. He's a very genuine horse.
"He tends to hit the gates well and get to the front but when something takes him on he can do too much.
"We knew there would be plenty of pace so decided to sit wide and get a lead for a change. It worked out well.
"That's probably his ideal trip. He wants to win and that's a big thing. He's a lovely solid horse.
"He's in the Topaz Mile at Galway and I have him in a maiden hurdle down there as well. We'll get him home and see how he is."
The winner was recording his first success since November of 2013.
Additional reporting by Gary Carson
