It was a fitting final win for one of the best of his generation as Highland Reel ended his career as the Hong Kong Vase Champion at Sha Tin earlier today.

The Ballydoyle inmate trained by Aiden O'Brien was the 2/1 narrow favourite with the class of this field being of a really high international standard.

The South African runner, Smart Call, was gutsy in her just over 6 length defeat from a wide draw. She found a rails run early in the contest after being used up to get there. Running strongly from a backwards position at the rail, the Sir Michael Stoute runner, is probably just below the best at this, the highest division. She attempted her final kick just before the bend and although making a strong final push, so did the others around her. She wasn't disgraced at all. 

Highland Reel fought off the game Talismanic by finishing well from his prominent position in the race. He was second for most of the run and quicken nicely on the tight turn at Sha Tin. 

LONGINES Hong Kong Vase – Post-race jockey quotes

1st - HIGHLAND REEL - Ryan Moore
“I was always happy and always confident. He’s the sort of horse once he gets into a fight, he’s almost always going to prevail. He dug in over the last furlong and I thought he was comfortable and going away at the finish.”

2nd - TALISMANIC – Maxime Guyon
“I was in an ideal position all the way, where I wanted to be and close enough to Highland Reel. I waited as long as I could as he only has a short run but I couldn’t get by him (Highland Reel) but he’s run a great race.”

3rd - TOSEN BASIL – Joao Moreira
“Fantatstic run. Had everything perfect during the race. He came up as we turned for home to give them a challenge but they are just too good for him but he ran a fantastic third.”

4th - CHEMICAL CHARGE – Oisin Murphy
“He was a little twitchy in the gate and missed the break a little and I was further back than I would have wanted to be. He ran on really well and that was a career best effort.”

5th - GOLD MOUNT – Zac Purton
“It was a good effort.”

6th - MAX DYNAMITE – Glyn Schofield
“He ran really well. I was in a lovely spot but the pace was probably a bit sedate for him.”

7th - SMART CALL – Jim Crowley
“From the bad draw we had to settle further back than was ideal. Under the circumstances she ran a good race.”

8th - EAGLE WAY – Tommy Berry
“He came into it very well around the corner but the internationals were better than us and he felt the effects of the setback in his training.”

9th - KISEKI – Mirco Demuro
“He started slowly which was not a big problem but the pace was a bit slow so I wanted to be in a more forward position around the final turn. But he didn’t fight in the straight. I was very disappointed.”

10th - DANEHILL KODIAC – Sean Levey
“He’s proven he’s a group 3 horse at home. I tucked him in behind Group 1 horses today and he was found wanting.”

11th - TIBERIAN – Olivier Peslier
“He started ok but he was never travelling very well. There was no power from before the 800 (metres) and he didn’t run his race. Disappointing.”

12th - HELENE CHARISMA – Sam Clipperton
“Just not good enough.”