Vision d’Etat shrugs off injury scare to triumph in Hong Kong Cup

Vision D’Etat shrugs off injury scare to triumph in Hong
Kong Cup

Vision D’Etat flaunts his class with his ears pricked (Hong Kong Jockey Club) Jacques Detre’s VISION D’ETAT (Chichicastenango) has demonstrated the truth of the old adage, “What a difference a day makes.” Lame on Saturday morning, the French invader was in tremendous form by Sunday, when he produced a blistering turn of foot to capture the $2.6 million Hong Kong Cup (HK-G1) at Sha Tin. Vision D’Etat was the highest-rated horse in a top-class field, having won last year’s Prix du Jockey-Club (Fr-G1) and this year’s Prix Ganay (Fr-G1) and Prince of Wales’s S. (Eng-G1). His ability to run up to that level was cast into doubt, however, on the eve of the race. Vision D’Etat had bumped himself in his box and developed a skin infection, causing swelling to his right hind fetlock that had left him slightly lame on Saturday.

In order to be allowed to run Sunday, Vision D’Etat had to pass a veterinary
examination by the Hong Kong Jockey Club’s Department of Veterinary Regulation
and International Liaison. When Vision D’Etat strode out on the all-weather
Sunday morning, trainer Eric Libaud knew his horse was back to his best, and the
veterinary officer gave him the all-clear.

Having overcome that last-minute scare, Vision D’Etat now had to contend with
nine accomplished rivals from around the globe. As expected, the Japanese mare
Queen Spumante (Jungle Pocket) rolled straight to the front, but the stalking
Eyshal (Green Desert) kept her in his sights through splits of :26.06, :50.47
and 1:14.39.

Mr Medici (Medicean) raced in third, followed by Ashalanda (Linamix),
defending champion Eagle Mountain (GB) (Rock of Gibraltar [Ire]) and Vision
D’Etat in a clear sixth. True to form, the late-running pair of Collection (Peintre
Celebre) and Presvis (Sakhee) bided their time nearer the back.

Vision D’Etat rebuffs Collection’s second try (Hong Kong Jockey Club) At the top of the stretch, Eyshal collared Queen Spumante while getting the metric mile in 1:38.45, but the pace factors were about to be overwhelmed. Vision D’Etat had improved his position on the outside for a confident-looking Olivier Peslier, and Collection was splitting rivals in the course of his eye-catching advance. With a devastating burst of speed, Vision D’Etat outkicked the local odds-on favorite Collection and struck the front. Although Collection did his best and tried to claw back the deficit, Vision D’Etat was firmly in command. The winner maintained a safe margin of three-quarters of a length, posting a final time of 2:01.86 for about 1 1/4 miles on the good turf.

“It is always a good sign when this horse is lazy during his races, as he was
today,” said Peslier, who was winning a record seventh Hong Kong
International Race. “He was similar when winning (the Prince of Wales’s) at Royal Ascot. I didn’t want to get to the lead too soon because I
was worried he might try and stop in front. He kept fighting today.”

Vision D’Etat was giving Libaud his second Hong Kong
International Race victory, following his success in the 2002 Hong Kong Vase
(HK-G1) with Ange Gabriel.

“It’s amazing because yesterday we thought he would not run as he had
developed an infection to his off-hind fetlock,” Libaud said. “But we looked
after him throughout the rest of the day and it improved. This morning he did a
small canter on the all-weather, and it was very reassuring to see him moving
well, so we decided to go ahead. The Club’s vets did a terrific job, and I have
to thank them very much.”  

Olivier Peslier celebrates a record seventh winner (Hong Kong Jockey Club) An amazed Darren Beadman, rider of Collection, paid tribute to Vision D’Etat. “Gosh, the winner was impressive,” Beadman said. “He came past me with his ears pricked, but we have run right up to our best.” Another 2 1/2 lengths back came Presvis, who finished with interest to overtake Ashalanda for third. Presvis’ connections were not downcast with his effort, for both trainer Luca Cumani and jockey Kieren Fallon agreed that their Dubai-bound charge would come on for the run. “He’s not there yet, but has run a good race and will come on for it. We are happy,” Fallon said of Presvis, who was making just his second start off a six-month layoff. “He has needed this and will be better for it,” Cumani said. “We’ll head to Dubai and decide which race to go for after the trials on the sand and grass.” Fourth-place finisher Ashalanda crossed the wire a half-length adrift of Presvis. “She ran very well and she is very honest,” rider Gerald Mosse said of Ashalanda. “She fought to the line. She is better at 12 furlongs, and this was a great race.” Eagle Mountain, making only his second start off an 11-month absence, ran evenly and saved fifth in a photo with Starlish (Rock of Gibraltar [Ire]).

“We expected (Eagle Mountain) would probably need this run again, so up to a
point you would say he ran well,” jockey Kevin Shea said.” I was happy, and I
think you can follow him from now on.”

Completing the order of finish were Special Days (Keeper), Mr Medici, Eyshal
and Queen Spumante.

Vision D’Etat now boasts a sparkling record of 13-9-1-1 with a bankroll in
the vicinity of $3.9 million. In addition to his three previously mentioned Group
1 scores, the four-year-old bay also claims victories in the 2008 Prix Niel
(Fr-G2) and Prix de Suresnes. Vision D’Etat opened 2009 with a third in the Prix
d’Harcourt (Fr-G2), and he was also second in the Prix Foy (Fr-G2) two back to
Spanish Moon (El Prado [Ire]), who just missed in Sunday’s Vase. Vision D’Etat’s
lone unplaced efforts have come in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (Fr-G1), where
he was fifth to Zarkava in 2008 and 10th behind Sea the Stars last time out.

Bred by G. Gilles in France, Vision D’Etat was purchased by Libaud for
€39,000 at the Arqana December Yearling Sale. He
is out of the Garde Royale mare
Uberaba. The immediate female line is rather plebeian, but further back in the
family appear *Mi Carina (Ocarina), the French champion three-year-old filly of
1959, and Stage Door Johnny (Prince John), the American champion three-year-old
colt and Belmont S. hero of 1968.

Plans call for Vision D’Etat to keep racing at five.

“As for our next race, he will stay in training and we’ll have to think about
Dubai next,” Libaud said.