Hong Kong’s 2000m hotshots all took their places in the G2 LONGINES Jockey Club Cup at Sha Tin racecourse today, Sunday 23 November, and it was Blazing Speed who hit the target to earn bragging rights for next month’s LONGINES Hong Kong Cup.

Tony Cruz’s charge poked his head in front a stride or two short of the wire to mug Military Attack in a thriller, and so earn another big-race success under the ever tenacious Neil Callan. The Irishman was on board to win the final leg of the Hong Kong Triple Crown last season, the HKG1 Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup (2400m), the British import having previously landed the first leg, the HKG1 Stewards’ Cup (1600m), under Mirco Demuro.

“Since the first time I got on him he just seems to relax for me. I don’t know if that’s the good training of Tony or my hands! He just seems to click for me and relax,” said Callan after the Dylan Thomas gelding had scored by a head in a fast time of 2m 01.71s.

“He’s now won a Group 1 over a mile, 2400m and now a Group 2 at 2000m, so he’s versatile. The most important thing is he’s got to get a spot, relax and find his rhythm and then at the end he’ll give you a kick. That’s whether it’s a mile, 2000m or 2400m, it doesn’t really matter.”

Zac Purton had kicked Military Attack to the lead with the best part of the Sha Tin straight ahead of him and Hong Kong’s Horse of the Year in 2012/2013 battled on gamely as a clutch of rivals snapped at his hells. Last year’s winner Endowing closed with purpose; California Memory, twice victorious in the G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Cup, attacked down the rail; current Horse of the Year Designs On Rome, hard at it as usual a full 600m out, pounded down centre track; but it was Blazing Speed who made the pressure tell.

“I was probably a length further back than where Tony had wanted me to be but the horse was relaxed and that was the most important thing – I took it and kept his rhythm going,” said Callan. “At the corner I felt him just change legs and he instantly gave me a kick. From that point I thought he was either going to win or be second. He’s got a good kick, and the further he goes, he’s got a better kick.”

The John Size-trained Endowing was a short-head behind the Caspar Fownes-trained Military Attack in third, California Memory was another neck in fourth with the John Moore-trained Designs On Rome the same distance back in fifth.

Cruz now has two leading hopes for the LONGINES Hong Kong Cup at the LONGINES Hong Kong International Races on 14 December after California Memory ran on well to claim fourth, while Willie Cazals, seventh here, closed off from the tail to give the trainer hope that he will be a chance for the same day’s G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Vase.

“Blazing Speed will definitely go to the Hong Kong Cup,” said the trainer. “We’ve really found the key to him, he’s a brilliant 2000m horse and I think he’s getting better as he gets older, just like wine.

“I was happy with California Memory’s run. He was fourth, he was coming on strong and I believe he’ll be spot on for the Hong Kong Cup. Willie Cazals will go for the Hong Kong Vase, he’s a horse that really likes cut in the ground but the 2400m will be perfect for him.”