The race widely recognised as the best international sprint line-up for many seasons given the presence of so many champions from all over the world ultimately boiled down a local shootout.
The first four past the post this year were trained in Hong Kong and it was the eighth straight season for the winner to be based at Sha Tin.
Ridden by Brett Prebble, Sacred Kingdom took up the running shortly after entering the home straight and had enough in reserve to repel the advances out wide of One World by half a length.
Joy And Fun ran third with Green Birdie fourth. California Flag and Total Gallery did best of the international runners filling the next positions.
The strong Australian contingent disappointed with Apache Cat and All Silent finishing in midfield, while Scenic Blast's bid for a US$1 million bonus for taking out three legs of the Global Sprint Challenge in three countries ended in anticlimax as he bled.
For trainer Ricky Yiu it was the third time he won the Sprint after Fairy King Prawn in 1999 and Sacred Kingdom two years ago.
Prebble, meanwhile, savouring success after victory in the same race in 2006 aboard Absolute Champion, said: "I had a lovely run in midfield but I didn't want to get there too quickly. When I was coming off their backs at the top of the straight, I had to count to ten before pressing the button because he's getting smarter as he gets older - he nearly pulled up on me there in the end! To be honest, I expected he would perform like that but it's great when it all works out."
A beaming Ricky Yiu added: "I felt the same before the race as I did before he won in Singapore earlier in the year. He was in good condition, training well and we just needed the luck in running and Brett did a brilliant job. To win this race for the third time is a real thrill, too."
Darren Beadman, however, lamented the wide barrier in 12 that forced his hand on One World.
"He's run out of his skin - he'd have won with a better gate, we'd have been a few positions closer, and with the way he finished that would have been enough. I was behind Inspiration in the run and if he had been able to take me into the race a little longer it would also have made a difference."
WHAT THE TRAINERS & JOCKEYS SAID
1st – Sacred Kingdom
Brett Prebble, Jockey:
"I had a lovely run in midfield but I didn't want to get there too quickly. When I was coming off their backs at the top of the straight, I had to get count to ten because he's getting smarter as he gets older and he nearly pulled up on me there in the end. To be honest, I expected he would perform like that but it's great when it all works out."
Ricky Yiu, Trainer:
"I felt the same before the race as I did before he won in Singapore earlier in the year. He was in good condition, training well and we just needed the luck in running and Brett did a brilliant job. To win this race for the third time is a real thrill, too."
2nd – One World
Darren Beadman, Jockey:
"He's run out of his skin - he'd have won with a better gate, we'd have been a few positions closer, and with the way he finished that would have been enough. I was behind Inspiration in the run and if he had been able to take me into the race a little longer it would also have made a difference."
3rd – Joy and Fun
Brett Doyle, Jockey
"Had a nice run on the rails, quickened up really well, but he died in his run the last twenty metres or so, but still a huge run for a horse that's better over 1400m."
4th – Green Birdie
Olivier Doleuze, Jockey:
"An unbelievable start for a horse making his first start for nine months. All credit to Caspar (Fownes), he's done a great job."
5th – California Flag
Joe Talamo, Jockey:
"If I hadn't had the Japanese horse taking me on, we might have been able to hang on. He was always making me do too much."
6th – Total Gallery
Johnny Murtagh, Jockey:
"He's run super for a three year old, he'll be an even better horse next year. He travelled well but was a touch fresh. He's a top sprinter in the making."
7th – Apache Cat
Damien Oliver, Jockey:
"He pulled up short, that's why I jumped off him after the line. I think it's a joint problem, but apparently it's not too bad."
8th – All Silent
Nicholas Hall, Jockey:
"He struck a bit of traffic and lost momentum when it mattered. He picked up late and ran OK under the circumstances."
9th – Inspiration
James Winks, Jockey:
"He just hit a flat spot between the 400m and 300m. His run wasn't bad - especially after the setback last time."
10th – Cannonball
Ramon Dominguez, Jockey:
"I had a good position and he travelled OK, but he didn't find anything in the alley."
11th – Borderlescott
Neil Callan, Jockey:
"He couldn't lay up with them - it shows you what sort of horse you need round here."
12th – War Artist
Olivier Peslier, Jockey:
"The horse was never really traveling, he didn't seem to like the surface or the bend."
13th - Laurel Guerreiro
Shinji Fujita, Jockey:
"He didn't run at all badly."
14th – Scenic Blast
Steven Arnold, Jockey:
"Sadly he bled and looks like he bled quite badly."
HONG KONG JOCKEY CLUB MEDIA RELEASE
