Odds-on favourite Viva Pataca fulfilled every expectation by hammering the opposition in the today`s Mercedes-Benz Hong Kong Derby (Gr.1-2000m) to give owner Stanley Ho Hung-sun the Classic success he has long coveted.

Victory also confirmed Viva Pataca`s status as the most exciting new horse to emerge in Hong Kong this season and hopes are high that the British-bred son of Marju can transfer that form onto the international stage next month in the Audemars Piguet QEII Cup.

The margin of success from Hail The Storm was a length and three-quarters with Silver Sun half a length further behind but don`t read too much into the distances - Viva Pataca, giving trainer John Moore his second Hong Kong Derby success, was vastly superior to his rivals.

Christophe Soumillon, flown into Hong Kong earlier that morning from the Dubai World Cup meeting on Mr Ho`s private jet, had Viva Pataca settled on the fence about five lengths behind a muddling pace at half way.

Straightening for the line, traffic problems briefly threatened to cost victory as Viva Pataca was strung up behind two runners with nothing more to offer. But Soumillon extricated his way clear of danger and his mount tore to the fore with over 200m to race. Viva Pataca won eased down under hand riding, his jockey glancing at the big screen inside the track to see how far clear he had shot.

"It`s the third time I have had a horse in the Derby and I guess that it`s my turn now," said Mr Ho, the famed entrepreneur in Macau and Hong Kong who ranks 84th in the list of the world`s richest people, according to Forbes magazine.

"I would like to thank John Moore and Christophe Soumillon for their efforts and for everyone in John`s team. This win is down to terrific teamwork," he added.

Viva Pataca, renamed after the unit of currency in Macau, formerly raced under the guise of Comic Strip for Sir Mark Prescott in England and was reportedly the subject of a megabucks transfer to Sha Tin last summer. The Prescott stable, it is understood, regarded Viva Pataca a Group One winner in waiting but could not turn down the strength of the offer from Hong Kong.

Now that potential is being played out on the other side of the world and it was interesting to note that Soumillon`s assessment that Viva Pataca is still only at "70 percent of his capacity"

John Moore concurred with Soumillon, stating: "He`s still learning and he`s getting more mature as times go by so, yes, he has a big future and he`s the kind of horse that could end up performing very well for Hong Kong in international races. He`s by Marju and a lot of those horses seem to adapt very well to the sort of microclimate they face here.

"Today he has won the way we thought he could and it`s great that we can all take a breather and reflect on a job well done. There was a lot of pressure on us there. I`m just overjoyed to have won the Derby again."

Moore`s last won the Derby in 1995 with Makarpura Star and Viva Pataca`s win was the trainer`s fourth Gr.1 of the season � his second in consecutive races after Billet Express` triumph in the Chairman`s Sprint Prize only moments. Moore`s career earnings now total HK$70 million � more than double his nearest challenger, John Size, with whom he is neck-and-neck in the hunt for the trainers` title.