South Africa steals European thunder in Hong Kong Group 1

Champion South African mare Irridescence may well have been deprived of a run in the Group 1 Dubai Duty Free last month after a freak accident in the paddock before the race but today she turned the tables and led from barrier to post to win Hong Kong’s $14m Group 1 Audemars Piguet QEII Cup at odds of 5-1. The mare is trained by South Africa’s legendary trainer Mike de Kock and was ridden by Weichong Marwing. Irridescence held on by a head from runner-up Best Gift, with Ouja Board the same distance back in third.

Of note, the “born or raised in South Africa” label attached to no less than 4 jockeys in today’s race: Weichong Marwing (Irridescence), Felix Coetzee (Russian Pearl), Glyn Schofield (River Dancer), Douglas Whyte (Falstaff).