Viva Pataca Stakes Claim To Top Honours Five-year-old Viva Pataca has staked his claim for a handful of titles when he thrashed Hong Kong's highest-rated horse Vengeance Of Rain and shattered the 2400-metre course record that had stood for 13 years. Given a masterful ride by Michael Kinane, who had arrived from London only 100 minutes before the start of the race, Viva Pataca proved his victory over Vengeance Of Rain in the Audemars Piguet Queen Elizabeth II Cup was no flash in the past, coming from behind to pace to win drawing away by three and three-quarters length. Vengeance Of Rain held for second with Viva Macau boxing on gamely for third placing. Both Viva Pataca and Viva Macau are owned by Macau casino tycoon Stanley Ho Hung Sun who told reporters after the race he was keen to see his horse do well after reading the various newspapers in the morning. 'I really like a challenge. I always have. So when I read that all the tipsters were backing Vengeance Of Rain, I knew my horse would respond to the challenge,' he said. Both Mr Ho's horses are trained by John Moore who was in Tokyo today to supervise his two runners in the Yasuda Kinen which was won by Japan's Daiwa Major. But in an interview before the race, he clearly refuted suggestions that trainer David Ferraris' `Vengeance' could get his revenge for his QEII defeat. 'My horse has thrived since that win and Mick (Kinane) knows the horse well. The fact that he's willing to rush to Hong Kong after riding in the Epsom Derby (on Saturday) shows just how much he thinks of my horse,' he said. Kinane agreed. 'Viva Pataca has matured into a lovely horse and can now hold his own against the best stayers anywhere. I like this horse and I wanted to ride him in this race. He was travelling well throughout and I didn't even have to ask for an effort. Once I pulled him out from behind Vengeance Of Rain, he accelerated like a good horse should,' he said. Kinane said he would be willing to ride the horse anywhere he was sent, including Europe. Viva Pataca clocked 2:24.5 for the trip, slashing more than half a second from the record of 2:25.1 set by Britain's Red Bishop in 1994. Moore, contacted in Japan, said he 'walking on air' but would not make any concrete plans for the horse until he returned to Hong Kong and talked it over with Mr Ho. 'But as I have said before, I would love to win a Group 1 race in Australia before I retire and I think this horse has the potential to do just that,' Moore said. The victory, combined with his QEII success, puts Viva Pataca in line for four end-of-season awards: Champion Stayer, Champion Middle Distance; Horse of the Year and Most Popular Horse. However, Jockey Club Chief Executive Officer Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges, who is one of the selection committee members, was not so sure. 'It was a very impressive run today, but there are other considerations that must be considered,' he said. Ferraris offered no excuses for his horse beyond the fact that Vengeance Of Rain has had a strenuous programme following his return from a spell in New Zealand and which included a trip to the United Arab Emirates where he earned his high international rating by smashing a top-class international field in the Dubai Sheema Classic over 2400 metres. Seven-time champion jockey Douglas Whyte, who piloted Viva Macau into third placing, said he expected the horse to be more mature next season. Fourth in the seven-horse race was the seven-year-old Saturn who set the hot pace for the record-breaking run and just tired in the final few strides.
