by Mike Curry

Vital King edged Floral Pegasus by a nose in the $2,480,000 Mercedes-Benz Hong Kong Derby on Sunday at Sha Tin to thwart his opponent’s bid to become Hong Kong’s first Triple Crown winner.

The victory was the first stakes win for the four-year-old Almutawakel (GB) gelding, who in his previous start finished fourth to victor Floral Pegasus on February 20 in the Mercedes-Benz Hong Kong Derby Trial.

Winning trainer Paul O’Sullivan was elated with Vital King’s performance and called the Hong Kong Derby win his biggest accomplishment as a trainer to date.

“The biggest result the stable had before now was finishing third in the soccer competition,” O’Sullivan said. “This win kind of shades that now; what a thrill. It all seems like a bit of a blur.”

Vital King, a New Zealand-bred formerly named Izzat, rallied from off the pace under jockey Brett Pebble to edge 1-to-2 favorite Floral Pegasus in the closing strides, completing 2,000 meters (9.94 furlongs) in 2:02.90 on turf rated as good.

"We had a lead-up that was free of interruptions and it was helped by a brilliant ride from Brett,” O’Sullivan said. ”We just had the momentum to get up in the final stride.
   
“I told his owner [Chong Man-lung] before the race that win, lose, or draw, we still had a great horse for the future. He's a rangy type and he's still a little bit unfurnished. His best years are definitely ahead of him.”

O’Sullivan said that Vital King, who is out of the Bassenthwaite mare Wauwinet, will be pointed to the Audemars Piquet QE II Cup (HK-G1) on April 29 at Sha Tin.

Mike Curry is a Thoroughbred Times daily news editor