Racing: In-form Munro lands a treble

Trainer Leslie Khoo praised the ride of jockey Alan Munro when WORLD WAR took out the $55,000 The Hong Kong Jockey Club Trophy over 1,400m in Sunday's Race 6.

Having his first start since July 14, a patient Munro guided World War to a ¾-length victory over Lucky Dapper (Barend Vorster). Kate's Keeper (Joao Moreira) was third, a length away.

World War recorded 1min 23.25sec for the journey.

Munro had World War back in the second half of the field on settling down, with Oh Money Come (Mohd Zaki) leading from Little Bit Fierce (John Powell) and Lucky Dapper.

There was little change at the head of affairs until the home turn, where Lucky Dapper took control.

It was at this point that Munro started to weave some of his magic as he found galloping room through the field, whereas the favourite Kate's Keeper was slightly held up for a run backtowards the inside.

Near the 200m World War swept up to Lucky Dapper and, over the concluding stages of the race, asserted his superiority on his opposition.

World War, a winner of just one of his previous nine starts, had responded well to Munro and also to the removal of blinkers in recent outings.

"Alan knows the horse very well," said Khoo. "He can get him to relax and he knows how to rate him really well. "He's not a horse that you can go on him too early. Alan waited until the right time and brought him home at the right time. "He has shown previously that he can be a hard horse to ride, but Alan understands him very well."

The British rider has now had three rides on World War for a win and two seconds. The Epsom Derby-winning jockey said the gelding had been unlucky in his two previous rides aboard him.

"He's a nice horse," he said.

"He's got some nice talent but can be a bit of a tricky ride. "He'll rise to Class 3 grade now and will no doubt find that quite a bit tougher but he had been unlucky not to win his last two starts.

"Hopefully, he can keep pressing forward."

A five-year-old Australian-bred by Lonhro from Moana Beach, World War is raced by the Empress Wu Stable and Sunday's success took his prize money past the $100,000 mark for connections.

Munro recorded a race-to-race double when the David Hill-trained CORONET PEAK took out the $35,000 Wan Chai Maiden Handicap over 1,200m on the Polytrack.

He then rounded the day with the Cliff Brown-trained BEAUTY SUPREME the final event, the $55,000 Tsim Sha Tsui Handicap over 1,400m.

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