Sensational Victory for Vengeance

An outstanding performance from Vengeance of Rain (NZ) (Zabeel x Danelagh) in Dubai on Saturday night highlighted a weekend of international success for New Zealand-bred horses and showcased the Hong Kong champion as a world class galloper.

Vengeance of Rain stamped his Hong Kong form and flew the flag for New Zealand with his win at Nad Al Sheba in the Group 1 US$5m Dubai Sheema Classic (2400m on turf).

Regular jockey Anthony Delpech was able to slot Vengeance of Rain into a handy position on the rail, from his four barrier draw, just in behind the leaders. The pace of the race was controlled at the front by Frankie Dettori aboard Best Alibi but Delpech was able to angle his charge out at the 300 metre mark to give the six-year-old a clear run. He duly obliged showing a stunning turn of foot to win by one-and-a-quarter lengths ahead of Oracle West with Youmzain half-a-length back in third.

Purchased as a yearling by trans-Tasman trainer Graeme Rogerson for NZ$300,000 at the 2002 Karaka Premier Sale, he was lightly raced as a two-year-old in Australia as 'Subscribe' by Lloyd Williams. He was then on-sold to Hong Kong where he is trained by South African expatriate David Ferraris.

One of the superstars of the 2005 Hong Kong racing season, he won the Group 1 Hong Kong International Cup (2000m) and was crowned 2005 World Racing Series Champion.

He is also one of 35 individual Group 1 winners for his New Zealand sire, Zabeel. Sir Patrick Hogan of Cambridge Stud, the birthplace of Vengeance of Rain and home of Zabeel, said this is the stallion's biggest result to date.

Vengeance of Rain recently spent a well-deserved spell at Cambridge Stud for four months before returning to Hong Kong. Since his return to racing�the gelding has�had two wins and two placings from six starts including Hong Kong Group 1 Hong Kong Gold Cup on 3 March. Hogan said the horse will eventually return to retire at his Cambridge property.

Saturday's win was the tenth for Vengeance of Rain and he has amassed over HK$63 million in prize money for his owners Raymond Gianco Chow Hon Man and the Executors of the Estate of the late Chow Nam.

Rated in the top five in the World Thoroughbred Racehorse Rankings in the 2005-06, his latest win looks sure to cement his prominence in the 2006-07 rankings.

The Hong Kong Jockey Club reports that Vengeance of Rain's next assignment will be in the Group 1 Audemars Piguet QEII Cup (2000m) at Sha Tin at the end of the month, setting up a showdown with Bullish Luck and Admire Moon, from Japan, who won the Group 1 Dubai Duty Free (1777m) on Saturday night.

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