Beethoven provided David Hall with the highest profile winner in his Hong Kong career to date thanks to a stylish win in the HSBC Premier Plate (18000m), the fifth leg of the HSBC Premier Series, at Sha Tin on Saturday.

Australian Hall, in his second season based at Sha Tin, only took over the training of Beethoven at the turn of the year and has turned around a horse that was unable to finish better than midfield in four of his five starts since leaving the David Hayes stable at the end of last term.

"He has had some problems with his joints and has had a fetlock problem also but we have been able to patch him up and Brett [jockey, Prebble] gave him a super ride there," Hall remarked.

"It`s definitely my biggest win here so far so I`m very happy."

Prebble positioned Beethoven in the box seat on the rails about two lengths in third place behind a sedate tempo set by Dr Well until the homestretch. Beethoven then peeled out to lead with a furlong and a half to race and stretched out to record a decisive two-and-three-quarter length victory from Green Treasure, a short-head clear of Dr Well in third.

Horses that were positioned towards the rear in the HK$2 million test were significantly disadvantaged by the pace of the race � Beethoven covered the final 400m in 21.8 seconds � therefore race favourite Flaming Lamborgini did well to finish fourth.

Hall has no fixed plans as regards his winner`s next assignment but said he would consider a tilt at the Queen Mother Memorial Cup (Gr.3-2400m) on May 7, provided Beethoven comes emerges from today`s race in good shape.

Beethoven, a six-year-old by Zabeel, certainly stays the mile and a half trip well and finished seventh in the 2004 Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Cup, over five lengths behind Phoenix Reach.

With just one leg of the HSBC Premier Series to go, Luckswell`s finish in fifth place put John Moore in an unassailable position as the leading trainer and he will collect a cheque for HK$200,000 after the final installment, the HSBC Premier Sha Tin Vase, on May 21.

The race for the series` leading jockey is tighter with Shane Dye (21 points) in front of apprentice Alex Lai (18) and Prebble (16).