Highland Reel succumbs to brilliant Werther

Highland Reel could only finish eighth behind runaway winner Werther in the Audemars Piguet QEII Cup at Sha Tin.

Aidan O'Brien's colt, who landed the Hong Kong Vase in December, endured a rough journey under Ryan Moore and was never a factor once his chance had gone.

Werther, by contrast, enjoyed a dream run in the hands of Hugh Bowman to add to his gains in the Hong Kong Derby last month.

John Moore's inmate was never that far off a generous pace which was set by Helene Super Star and the winner's stablemate Helene Happy Star before Bowman breezed into an unassailable lead along the home straight.

Military Attack, who won the 10-furlong Group One in 2013, turned in an honourable effort but he was well beaten in second place.

Last year's QEII Cup hero Blazing Speed finished third, with Lovely Day in fourth.

Moore has an ambitious campaign mapped out for the winner, who will contest the Group One Champions & Chater Cup on May 22 and then target the Cox Plate at Moonee Valley in October.

The trainer said: "There were some doubts about the strength of the Hong Kong Derby form but Werther has put that to bed now. He was extremely impressive and he will continue to improve. The sky's the limit.

"Next will be the Champions & Chater Cup and Hugh will be here to ride him again. Then we will give him a break and I will try and pull the owner's leg and go back for the Cox Plate."

Bowman added: "He has now, after winning so decisively, taken the big step on the world stage, so Hong Kong has got a world champion in its midst."

Ryan Moore said of Highland Reel: "He had a good preparation but the ground went against us and he hated it."

South Africa's Ertijaal faded in the straight to finish ninth and could now be pointed at Group races in Europe, according to owner Sheikh Hamdan's racing manager Angus Gold.

Gold said: "He was travelling as well as anything on the home bend but ultimately the ground has found him out. He's grown up a lot and there are plenty of positives to take out of the run.

"Whatever else, he'll certainly head back to Dubai for next year's Carnival."

Lovely Day went off favourite under Jaoa Moreira and the six-year-old's trainer Yasutoshi Ikee said: "He ran well but the ground was not in his favour and he got tired."