Lucky Nine proved yet again that Hong Kong horses are hard to beat in the Sprint. He won the Grade 1 event from the deadheating Entrapment and Joy and Fun. Rocket Man was unplaced.

Lucky Nine got the better of a titanic struggle with fellow Hong Kong runners Entrapment and Joy And Fun to maintain the complete home domination of the G1 Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Sprint.

History now relates that Hong Kong speedsters have won nine of the last ten renewals but none of the previous speed battles can have been quite as exciting as today’s stretch war. The Caspar Fownes-trained, Brett Prebble-ridden Lucky Nine grabbed the huge prize by a head, with the judge unable to divide Entrapment or popular veteran Joy And Fun.

As the early front-runners – including Rocket Man – the world’s second highest-rated sprinter – started to run out of gas it was Douglas Whyte who kicked for home on Entrapment.

With Joy And Fun joining in the battle, the three speedsters were locked together for what seemed like an age until Prebble urged the versatile 2011 Mercedes-Benz Hong Kong Classic Mile winner to the front.

Special credit must go to the super gallant Derek Cruz-trained Joy And Fun who survived a career-threatening injury at Royal Ascot in 2010 whilst the favourite Little Bridge also gets plenty of credit for his 4th placing.

Curren Chan ran best of the Japanese raiders in 5th with Bated Breath leading the Europeans in 8th. Rocket Man, who like Bated Breath fired to dispute the early pace from a wide gate, was ultimately a big disappointment finishing 12th as was dual Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Sprint winner Sacred Kingdom, unable to get into the late action this year finishing only tenth.

Of the winner, a popular second favourite, an ecstatic Prebble said: “We missed the kick slightly and I was on the back foot from the start. Joy And Fun took me a bit wide on the turn but this horse is all heart and 100% credit to Caspar who couldn’t have had him any better. He has the stamina to go further but this horse never shirks a challenge.”

The jockeys of the two dead-heaters also heaped praise on their mounts. Whyte said of Entrapment: “A terrific effort. There was nothing in it at the finish.” Brett Doyle said: “Joy And Fun has run out of his skin. Just a super effort.”

Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Sprint post-race quotes

1st – Lucky Nine – Brett Prebble

“There was always going to be speed with Rocket Man drawn wide. He missed the kick slightly and I was on the back foot from the start. Joy And Fun took me a bit wide on the turn but this horse is all heart and 100% credit to Caspar, he couldn’t have had him any better - it’s a big factor. He has the stamina to go further but this horse never shirks a challenge.”

Dead-heat 2nd – Entrapment - Douglas Whyte

“Terrific effort. Nothing in it at the finish, but I have to say he had his chance.

Dead-heat 2nd – Joy And Fun - Brett Doyle

“Every chance in the run, and he’s run out of his skin. Just a super effort.”

4th – Little Bridge - Gerald Mosse

“He didn’t have enough room in the straight, but he was a bit timid, a bit shy.”

5th – Curren Chan - Kenichi Ikezoe

“She tracked the leaders well, and I was watching Rocket Man, but my horse didn’t have the pace of the winner.

6th – Rich Unicorn - Mark du Plessis

“He ran well and I thought he’d finish fourth, but he just flattened out in the last 100m or so.”

7th – Admiration - Darren Beadman

“Just a bit sharp for him, but he battled on well.”

8th – Bated Breath - Steve Drowne

“We had to do so much work early from that gate to get a position, and when it came to the stretch we were always going to be vulnerable, but he ran well enough.

9th - Sole Power - Keegan Latham

“I was bumped, but it was his first time around a right hand bend, he finished nicely, but he’s really a five furlong horse. We’re happy enough.”

10th - Sacred Kingdom – Zac Purton

“Just too hard for him from that gate, when he quickened he just didn’t go through with it like he used to at his best.”

11th – Green Birdie - Tye Angland

“He’s maybe getting a bit old now, we were in a good position, but the old speed just wasn’t there.”

12th - Rocket Man - Barend Vorster

“He had it to do from that draw, but I expected him to quicken more than he did turning for home. Maybe it was too much travelling coming here after Japan and he’s had enough now.”

13th - Society Rock - John Murtagh

“He missed the break, and that was that, you can’t do that in this company.”

14th – Pas de Trois - Katsumi Ando

“He appeared to be put off by the other horses.”