Collier Hill Reaches New Heights In Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Vase The fairytale story of Collier Hill took yet another barely imaginable twist as the eight-year-old British stayer repelled the late thrust of Kastoria by a nose to win the HK$14m Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Vase. The horse that cost GBP5,500 as a cast-off and was bought to win a bumper at Catterick before a spell over hurdles has now won over HK$31m, adding to wins in last year?s Irish St Leger and the Canadian International in October. Collier Hill raced prominently and took over the lead with over 300m to go and looked to have the race in safe keeping at the furlong pole ? but that was when Mick Kinane had extricated Kastoria from an awkward passage and unleashed a tremendous run that brought him to within an agonising margin of the winner. Shamdala, owned like the runner-up by the Aga Khan, ran third with Song Of Wind fourth for Japan. While it was a tale of hard-luck tale for the Irish-trained runner-up, take nothing from Collier Hill, so boldly touted all week by his jockey Dean McKeown - a man better known for his exploits at tracks in the north of Britain ? as a horse that would not be beaten and one that excels when he travels overseas. 'I knew I had won turning for home!' the rider joked in the post-race media melee. 'He picked up really well but near the line he turned his head at the crowd shouting and he started to ease up and when Kastoria came at him he really stuck his head out and just got in.' Trainer Alan Swinbank, who trains 120 horses in a yard of flat and jump horses in North Yorkshire, added: 'He was a bit dehydrated on Thursday and for a time it was touch and go whether we would run, and it was only yesterday that he came right again. We have always had trouble his joints and now we can look after them when he gets home. He deserves a break now, doesn?t he?' 'Long term, we might come back here next year, but you have to consider his age. In the meantime, he will go back to Dubai for the Sheema Classic in March when we will try to go one better than last year.'
