Maurice in command at Sha Tin

Maurice returned from a five-month break to lay claim to be the world's top miler with an authoritative victory under Joao Moreira in the Champions Mile at Sha Tin.

The Japanese superstar showed there are no chinks in his armour with a silky-smooth, two-length triumph over Contentment.

Moreira oozed confidence on his mount, who came on the bridle and put the race to bed with a telling change of gear in the final 200 metres.

The jockey said: "He gave me an unbelievable feeling, it was really incredible.

"He travelled smoothly just in behind the leaders and I always had them covered.

"I knew that any time I pressed the button he would quicken up and go past them.

"The way he races I see no reason why he wouldn't go (stay) further than the mile.

"Good horses like him make a jockey's life so much easier. He is undoubtedly right up there with the best I have ridden."

Australian ace Chautauqua laid claim to be the leading sprinter in the world with his dramatic triumph in the Chairman's Sprint Prize - and could now be Royal Ascot-bound.

The come-from-behind racer produced his customary late swoop to reel in Lucky Bubbles and Strathmore for trainer Michael Hawkes and jockey Tommy Berry.

And the immediate reaction of his connections was to point the grey at the Diamond Jubilee Stakes on June 18, in which he would try to emulate the legendary Black Caviar.

Hawkes said: "Plans are in progress and let's see how he pulls out in the morning, but all things being equal were heading to Europe next."

Chautauqua, a three-times Group One winner in Australia, was forced to miss the 2015 Hong Kong Sprint and Hawkes added: "We wanted to be here in December but he tweaked a joint.

"Now here we are with a different Group One in our hands. It's such a proud moment for everyone concerned with the horse.

"This horse has a strange way of doing things and I was standing up shouting when I knew he would get there.

Tommy Berry's task was to time his run and he did that to perfection.

The jockey said: "They went very quick and 250 metres out I had to take a deep breath because I knew with his closing capability he had them all stone cold."