Contentment made the most of his light weight to land Thursday’s Celebration Cup (1400m) at Sha Tin under Joao Moreira.
Contentment landed his first feature race in the Celebration Cup at Sha Tin.
Photo: Darryl Sherer
The John Size-trained five-year-old carried 52kg and started the hot favourite for the domestic Group III race following a recent barrier trial win and starting from barrier three.
Moreira parked Contentment in fourth place along the inside behind Beauty Flame until the home turn where he was able to ease into running room.
Contentment accelerated into the lead with 250m to travel, able to coast home the final 50m and defeat Giant Treasure by half a length with Super Lifeline a further two lengths off in third place.
Contentment completed the trip in 1:21.17 on a track rated good.
Moreira told the Hong Kong Jockey Club that Contentment is a stronger horse this year.
“He is a much more mature horse than he was last season and he showed us what we were expecting,” Moreira said.
“I don’t think he is at his best at the moment and he still won, so we are very excited about what he will bring to his next races.
“Wherever he goes he will be competitive – he has heart.”
Contentment was a $65,000 purchase by John Foote Bloodstock from the draft of Arrowfield Stud at the 2012 Inglis Inglis Sydney Classic Yearling Sale.