Absolute Champion Show In Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Sprint ABSOLUTE CHAMPION smashed the track record in a scintillating performance in the HK$12million Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Sprint.The David Hall-trained five-year-old representing Hong Kong lowered the record he set in October by three-tenths of a second, recording a time of 1m 7.8 sec.Brett Prebble had Absolute Champion held up in midfield off a scorching pace in the early stages but when the leaders straightened up for home it was clear Absolute Champion was cruising and once Prebble asked his charge to quicken, he burst clear to win by a massively impressive four-and-a-quarter lengths from former dual winner, Silent Witness and the British challenger, Benbaun.Absolute Champion continued the incredible run of victories by Australian-bred horses in this race. They have won every Sprint since the race began in 1999.David Hall said: 'It would have been pretty hard to say that he could have improved after his last run when he broke the track record but somehow he´s done it. I was very disappointed that he wasn´t selected for the race in the first place as I thought there were no ifs and buts about it when he you break a track record. He´s proved it now.'That´s one of the most impressive wins that I´ve seen for a long time and it´s sweet when it´s your own. I know that he had a bit of a reputation before he came to my stable but maybe he just enjoyed the switch. Adding the side-winkers has probably had an effect as well.' Hall is in his third season in Hong Kong and won the Melbourne Cup in 2003 with Makybe Diva. He also prepared Silent Witness before today´s runner-up switched to Hong Kong.
