Falbrav ends career on a high in Hong Kong

Falbrav ended his racing career in style when taking the Hong Kong Cup under Frankie Dettori at Sha Tin earlier today.

The five-year-old was always travelling comfortably and, after closing up before the straight, quickened up well to beat fellow British raider Rakti by two lengths.

The Luca Cumani-trained colt now retires to stud in Japan, and the Newmarket handler paid tribute afterwards saying, ´He´s the best horse in the world and always has been. He´s run in 10 Group 1´s and won five of them, and it maybe should have been one more.´

´I was a bit concerned when he was a bit further back than usual, and thought he would need a bit of luck. However Frankie said he made his own room and said when he went, he nearly fell out of the back. He said ´I knew he was good but not that good´.

´When he kicks he is such a fantastic horse and I think a mile and a quarter is his best distance but he is very effective over a mile as well. A mile and a half just stretches him a bit but he is so versatile,´ added Cumani.

Michael Jarvis is looking forward to campaigning Rakti next season after he held off Elegant Fashion by a length and a quarter for second. ´He just missed the break, which meant he had alot of traffic in front of him. He went for the same gap as Falbrav but the winner got there first.´

´I´m thrilled with him and he might be the best horse in the world next year. There is plenty to look forward to, and I think he should have the Prince Of Wales and the Eclipse Stakes as his main summer targets. He´s won over a mile and a half but I think a mile to a mile and a quarter is his best distance.´

Alan Magee