Viva Pataca
Encyclopedia
Viva Pataca (foaled 7 May 2002 in England
) is a Thoroughbred
racehorse
. Bred by the Dukes of Devonshire
and Roxburghe
, he was out of the mare
Comic and sired by English Group One
winner, Marju
. He was purchased by Neil Greig - Osborne House for 26,000 guineas
at the 2003 Tattersalls
October Yearling Sale and given the name "Comic Strip."
Trained by Sir Mark Prescott
at age two, Comic Strip won five of his six starts. After winning his last start in the October 2004 Silver Tankard Stakes
, he did not run again until the end of July in 2005 when he finished fourth in a Handicap for three-year-olds at Goodwood Racecourse
. Sold to Macau
businessman, Stanley Ho
, he was renamed Viva Pataca for the Macanese pataca
, the currency of Macau.
Viva Pataca made his Asian racing debut at Sha Tin Racecourse
in Hong Kong
on 1 January 2006, finishing third in the 1400 metre Chang Jiang Handicap. Two weeks later, under new jockey Christophe Soumillon
, he won the 1600 metre New Asia Road Handicap then in mid February won the Chukyo Handicap. In late March, Viva Pataca won his first Group One
race when he gave trainer John Moore his second win in the Hong Kong Derby
. In April, jockey Gerald Mosse
rode him to a sixth place finish behind winner Iridescence in the Queen Elizabeth II Cup
. At the end of May he came back with a win under jockey Michael Kinane
in the Group One Champions & Chater Cup
.
Returning to the track in October for the 2006-2007 campaign, under jockey Eric Saint-Martin, Viva Pataca finished fifth in the Sha Tin Trophy then third in the International Cup Trial. With Christophe Soumillon aboard he finished fourth to Pride
in December's Hong Kong Cup
then in late January ran third in the 2007 Stewards' Cup to winner Armada.
With Michael Kinane back in the saddle, in early March 2007 Viva Pataca was second by a nose to Vengeance of Rain
in the 2007 Hong Kong Gold Cup
. After Vengeance of Rain won the 31 March Dubai Sheema Classic
at Nad Al Sheba Racecourse
in Dubai
, on his return to Hong Kong he was the even-money
favorite to win the 29 April running of the Queen Elizabeth II Cup
. However, Michael Kinane rode Viva Pataca to a strong win by 1¾ lengths. In the much anticipated 3 June "Rubber match
" between the two in the Champions & Chater Cup
, Viva Pataca defeated Vengeance of Rain by three lengths while breaking the 2400-metre course record that had stood for thirteen years.
In late August 2007, trainer John Moore had Viva Pataca booked to be flown to Melbourne
, Australia
to compete in the Cox Plate
. However, the trip was canceled after equine influenza was reported in Australia. Moore then considered taking the horse to the United States to compete in the Breeders' Cup Turf
at Monmouth Park in New Jersey
. Because no Hong Kong horse had ever competed in a Breeders' Cup
, it was widely discussed throughout the Asian media. However, owner Stanley Ho eventually decided against it.
Following a layoff of nearly four months, in his return to racing on 21 October 2007, Viva Pataca finished seventh in the 1600 meter Group 3 Sha Tin Trophy Handicap. On 11 November 2007 have won the Hong Kong Cup
Trial in ease, successfully outrunning Packing Winner and Art Trader. Then he went straight forward to the Hong Kong Cup
,running second behind the winner Ramonti with a short head distance.
Viva Pataca started the 2008 year with Steward's Cup, running third. But he won the Hong Kong Gold Cup
before he was invited to compete the Dubai Sheema Classic
in Nad Al Sheba Racecourse
, Dubai
, finished in second behind the winner Sun Classique. Viva Pataca then stand to defend the Queen Elizabeth II Cup
title but only finished third. Then he also failed to defend the Chater Cup title, which finished in second place.
Viva Pataca started the 2008/09 season with the Sha Tin Trophy, which had a surprising win that beat Good Ba Ba
. Then he won the Hong Kong Cup
Trial again with went straight forward to the Hong Kong Cup
, but only finished fourth.
Viva Pataca started the 2009 year with Steward's Cup again, with running third again. But he successfully defend the Hong Kong Gold Cup
title. Then he compete the Chairman's Trophy as a preparation to the Queen Elizabeth II Cup
, which he finished in third. In the Queen Elizabeth II Cup
, he finished in second behind the winner Presvis. Viva Pataca finished the season with winning his 3rd Chater Cup title in four years.
Viva Pataca become the Horse of the year in 2008/09 1st time in his racing life.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
) is a Thoroughbred
Thoroughbred
The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word thoroughbred is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed...
racehorse
Horse racing
Horse racing is an equestrian sport that has a long history. Archaeological records indicate that horse racing occurred in ancient Babylon, Syria, and Egypt. Both chariot and mounted horse racing were events in the ancient Greek Olympics by 648 BC...
. Bred by the Dukes of Devonshire
Peregrine Cavendish, 12th Duke of Devonshire
Peregrine Andrew Morny Cavendish, 12th Duke of Devonshire, KCVO, CBE , is a British peer. He is the only surviving son of the 11th Duke of Devonshire and his wife, the former Deborah Mitford. He succeeded to the dukedom following the death of his father on 3 May 2004...
and Roxburghe
Guy Innes-Ker, 10th Duke of Roxburghe
thumb|right|Portrait by [[Allan Warren]]Guy David Innes-Ker, 10th Duke of Roxburghe , is a British aristocrat. He was the elder son of the 9th Duke by his second wife Elisabeth McConnel...
, he was out of the mare
Mare (horse)
A mare is an adult female horse or other equine.In most cases, a mare is a female horse over the age of three, and a filly is a female horse age three and younger. However, in Thoroughbred horse racing, a mare is defined as a female horse more than four years old; in harness racing a mare is a...
Comic and sired by English Group One
Group One
Group One or Group 1 is the term used for the highest level of Thoroughbred and Standardbred stakes races in many countries. Group One races may be run under handicap conditions in Australia but in Europe weight-for-age conditions always apply. Races may be also restricted to age groups or a...
winner, Marju
Marju
Marju is a retired a Thoroughbred racehorse bred by Kilcarn Stud and owned by Hamdan Al Maktoum. He was sired by Last Tycoon out of Flame of Tara....
. He was purchased by Neil Greig - Osborne House for 26,000 guineas
Guinea (British coin)
The guinea is a coin that was minted in the Kingdom of England and later in the Kingdom of Great Britain and the United Kingdom between 1663 and 1813...
at the 2003 Tattersalls
Tattersalls
Tattersalls is the main auctioneer of race horses in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland. It was founded in 1766 by Richard Tattersall , who had been stud groom to the second Duke of Kingston. The first premises occupied were near Hyde Park Corner, in what was then the outskirts of London...
October Yearling Sale and given the name "Comic Strip."
Trained by Sir Mark Prescott
Mark Prescott
Sir Mark Prescott, 3rd Baronet is a race horse trainer with over 1300 winners to his name. An English baronet he inherited his knighthood from his father and obtained his first trainers license in 1970.-Biography:...
at age two, Comic Strip won five of his six starts. After winning his last start in the October 2004 Silver Tankard Stakes
Silver Tankard Stakes
The Silver Tankard Stakes is a Listed flat horse race in Great Britain which is open to two-year-old thoroughbreds. It is run at Pontefract over a distance of 1 mile and 4 yards , and it is scheduled to take place each year in October....
, he did not run again until the end of July in 2005 when he finished fourth in a Handicap for three-year-olds at Goodwood Racecourse
Goodwood Racecourse
Goodwood Racecourse is a horse-racing track five miles north of Chichester, West Sussex, in England controlled by the family of the Duke of Richmond, whose seat is nearby Goodwood House...
. Sold to Macau
Macau
Macau , also spelled Macao , is, along with Hong Kong, one of the two special administrative regions of the People's Republic of China...
businessman, Stanley Ho
Stanley Ho
Stanley Ho, GBM, GLM, GBS, GML, OBE , also known as Ho Hung Sun, Stanley Ho Hung Sun, is an entrepreneur in Hong Kong and Macau. Ho is sometimes nicknamed "The King of Gambling", reflecting the government-granted monopoly he held of the Macau gambling industry for 40 years...
, he was renamed Viva Pataca for the Macanese pataca
Macanese pataca
The pataca is the currency of Macau. It is subdivided into 100 avos , with 10 avos called ho in Cantonese. The abbreviation MOP$ is commonly used....
, the currency of Macau.
Viva Pataca made his Asian racing debut at Sha Tin Racecourse
Sha Tin Racecourse
Sha Tin Racecourse is one of the two racecourses for horse racing in Hong Kong. It is located in Sha Tin in the New Territories. It is managed by Hong Kong Jockey Club.Penfold Park is encircled by the track.-History:...
in Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
on 1 January 2006, finishing third in the 1400 metre Chang Jiang Handicap. Two weeks later, under new jockey Christophe Soumillon
Christophe Soumillon
Christophe Soumillon is a Belgian Thoroughbred horse racing jockey.-Career:Raised in a horse racing family, he is the son of a horse jumping jockey Jean-Marc Soumillon. Christophe Soumillon apprenticed at Chantilly Racecourse in Chantilly, France to Cédric Boutin, and won his first race in...
, he won the 1600 metre New Asia Road Handicap then in mid February won the Chukyo Handicap. In late March, Viva Pataca won his first Group One
Group One
Group One or Group 1 is the term used for the highest level of Thoroughbred and Standardbred stakes races in many countries. Group One races may be run under handicap conditions in Australia but in Europe weight-for-age conditions always apply. Races may be also restricted to age groups or a...
race when he gave trainer John Moore his second win in the Hong Kong Derby
Hong Kong Derby
The Hong Kong Derby is a Hong Kong Thoroughbred horse race held annually since 1873. Restricted to horses four-years-old only since 1981, the race is run in mid-March and is the premier event on the domestic racing programme with a purse of HK$16 million The Hong Kong Derby is a Hong Kong...
. In April, jockey Gerald Mosse
Gérald Mossé
Gérald Mossé is a jockey in thoroughbred horse racing. He began riding professionally in April 1983 and his success during his apprenticeship under Patrick-Louis Biancone led to an offer to ride for renowned trainer François Boutin and his stable of horses belonging to Jean-Luc Lagardère...
rode him to a sixth place finish behind winner Iridescence in the Queen Elizabeth II Cup
Queen Elizabeth II Cup
The Queen Elizabeth II Cup is a Group One Thoroughbred horse race at Sha Tin Racecourse in the New Territories, Hong Kong. Established in 1975 by the Royal Hong Kong Jockey Club, it is run annually in April at a distance of 2,000 metres on turf. Prior to 1997 it was run at 2,200 metres...
. At the end of May he came back with a win under jockey Michael Kinane
Michael Kinane
Michael J. Kinane is a former flat racing jockey. He had a 34-year career, retiring on 8 December 2009....
in the Group One Champions & Chater Cup
Hong Kong Champions & Chater Cup
Hong Kong Champions & Chater Cup is a Hong Kong Thoroughbred horse race held annually in late May or early June at Sha Tin Racecourse. A Group One race that offers a purse of HK$8,000,000, it is run on turf over a distance of 2400 meters and is open to horses three years of age and older...
.
Returning to the track in October for the 2006-2007 campaign, under jockey Eric Saint-Martin, Viva Pataca finished fifth in the Sha Tin Trophy then third in the International Cup Trial. With Christophe Soumillon aboard he finished fourth to Pride
Pride (horse)
Pride is a champion French racemare who won three Group 1 races. Her biggest success was the 2006 Hong Kong Cup. She was also an unlucky second in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. Her other feature wins were the Champion Stakes and Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud...
in December's Hong Kong Cup
Hong Kong Cup
The Hong Kong Cup is a Group 1 flat horse race in Hong Kong which is open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run over a distance of 2000 metres at Sha Tin, and it is scheduled to take place each year in mid December....
then in late January ran third in the 2007 Stewards' Cup to winner Armada.
With Michael Kinane back in the saddle, in early March 2007 Viva Pataca was second by a nose to Vengeance of Rain
Vengeance of Rain
Vengeance of Rain is a retired Thoroughbred racehorse in Hong Kong that won Dubai Sheema Classic , the joint richest turf race in the world. Vengeance of Rain was foaled in New Zealand, trained by David E...
in the 2007 Hong Kong Gold Cup
Hong Kong Gold Cup
The Hong Kong Gold Cup is a Hong Kong Thoroughbred horse race held annually since 1979 at Sha Tin Racecourse. It is open to horses three years of age and older.Run on turf, it was initially run over a distance of 1800 Metres, but is now set at 2,000 metres and it offers a purse of HK$...
. After Vengeance of Rain won the 31 March Dubai Sheema Classic
Dubai Sheema Classic
The Dubai Sheema Classic is a Group 1 flat horse race in the United Arab Emirates open to thoroughbreds which are four-years-old or above. It is run over a distance of 2,400 metres on the turf track at Meydan Racecourse, Dubai, and it takes place annually during the Dubai World Cup Night in...
at Nad Al Sheba Racecourse
Nad Al Sheba Racecourse
Nad Al Sheba Racecourse is a former Thoroughbred horse racing facility in Dubai, United Arab Emirates opened in 1986. It has a 2,200 metre left-handed dirt race track and a left-handed turf course of the same distance...
in Dubai
Dubai
Dubai is a city and emirate in the United Arab Emirates . The emirate is located south of the Persian Gulf on the Arabian Peninsula and has the largest population with the second-largest land territory by area of all the emirates, after Abu Dhabi...
, on his return to Hong Kong he was the even-money
Parimutuel betting
Parimutuel betting is a betting system in which all bets of a particular type are placed together in a pool; taxes and the "house-take" or "vig" is removed, and payoff odds are calculated by sharing the pool among all winning bets...
favorite to win the 29 April running of the Queen Elizabeth II Cup
Queen Elizabeth II Cup
The Queen Elizabeth II Cup is a Group One Thoroughbred horse race at Sha Tin Racecourse in the New Territories, Hong Kong. Established in 1975 by the Royal Hong Kong Jockey Club, it is run annually in April at a distance of 2,000 metres on turf. Prior to 1997 it was run at 2,200 metres...
. However, Michael Kinane rode Viva Pataca to a strong win by 1¾ lengths. In the much anticipated 3 June "Rubber match
Rubber match
According to Paul Dickson's The New Dickson's Baseball Dictionary , a "rubber game" is "The last and deciding game of a series when the previous games have been split; e.g., the seventh game of the World Series." This tie-breaking sense of "rubber" apparently originated in the English game of...
" between the two in the Champions & Chater Cup
Hong Kong Champions & Chater Cup
Hong Kong Champions & Chater Cup is a Hong Kong Thoroughbred horse race held annually in late May or early June at Sha Tin Racecourse. A Group One race that offers a purse of HK$8,000,000, it is run on turf over a distance of 2400 meters and is open to horses three years of age and older...
, Viva Pataca defeated Vengeance of Rain by three lengths while breaking the 2400-metre course record that had stood for thirteen years.
In late August 2007, trainer John Moore had Viva Pataca booked to be flown to Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
to compete in the Cox Plate
Cox Plate
The W.S. Cox Plate is an Australian Group 1 Thoroughbred horse race held in Melbourne every October by the Moonee Valley Racing Club to honour W.S. Cox, the club's founder. For three-year-olds and over, the race is considered to be the Weight for Age championship of Australasia...
. However, the trip was canceled after equine influenza was reported in Australia. Moore then considered taking the horse to the United States to compete in the Breeders' Cup Turf
Breeders' Cup Turf
The Breeders' Cup Turf is a Weight for Age Thoroughbred horse race on turf for three-year-olds and up. It is held annually at a different racetrack in the United States or Canada as part of the Breeders' Cup World Championships. The race's current title sponsor is Emirates Airlines.The forerunner...
at Monmouth Park in New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
. Because no Hong Kong horse had ever competed in a Breeders' Cup
Breeders' Cup
The Breeders' Cup World Championships is an annual series of Thoroughbred horse races, most but not all Grade I, operated by Breeders' Cup Limited, a company formed in 1982. From its inception in 1984 through 2006, it was a single-day event; starting in 2007, it expanded to two days. The location...
, it was widely discussed throughout the Asian media. However, owner Stanley Ho eventually decided against it.
Following a layoff of nearly four months, in his return to racing on 21 October 2007, Viva Pataca finished seventh in the 1600 meter Group 3 Sha Tin Trophy Handicap. On 11 November 2007 have won the Hong Kong Cup
Hong Kong Cup
The Hong Kong Cup is a Group 1 flat horse race in Hong Kong which is open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run over a distance of 2000 metres at Sha Tin, and it is scheduled to take place each year in mid December....
Trial in ease, successfully outrunning Packing Winner and Art Trader. Then he went straight forward to the Hong Kong Cup
Hong Kong Cup
The Hong Kong Cup is a Group 1 flat horse race in Hong Kong which is open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run over a distance of 2000 metres at Sha Tin, and it is scheduled to take place each year in mid December....
,running second behind the winner Ramonti with a short head distance.
Viva Pataca started the 2008 year with Steward's Cup, running third. But he won the Hong Kong Gold Cup
Hong Kong Gold Cup
The Hong Kong Gold Cup is a Hong Kong Thoroughbred horse race held annually since 1979 at Sha Tin Racecourse. It is open to horses three years of age and older.Run on turf, it was initially run over a distance of 1800 Metres, but is now set at 2,000 metres and it offers a purse of HK$...
before he was invited to compete the Dubai Sheema Classic
Dubai Sheema Classic
The Dubai Sheema Classic is a Group 1 flat horse race in the United Arab Emirates open to thoroughbreds which are four-years-old or above. It is run over a distance of 2,400 metres on the turf track at Meydan Racecourse, Dubai, and it takes place annually during the Dubai World Cup Night in...
in Nad Al Sheba Racecourse
Nad Al Sheba Racecourse
Nad Al Sheba Racecourse is a former Thoroughbred horse racing facility in Dubai, United Arab Emirates opened in 1986. It has a 2,200 metre left-handed dirt race track and a left-handed turf course of the same distance...
, Dubai
Dubai
Dubai is a city and emirate in the United Arab Emirates . The emirate is located south of the Persian Gulf on the Arabian Peninsula and has the largest population with the second-largest land territory by area of all the emirates, after Abu Dhabi...
, finished in second behind the winner Sun Classique. Viva Pataca then stand to defend the Queen Elizabeth II Cup
Queen Elizabeth II Cup
The Queen Elizabeth II Cup is a Group One Thoroughbred horse race at Sha Tin Racecourse in the New Territories, Hong Kong. Established in 1975 by the Royal Hong Kong Jockey Club, it is run annually in April at a distance of 2,000 metres on turf. Prior to 1997 it was run at 2,200 metres...
title but only finished third. Then he also failed to defend the Chater Cup title, which finished in second place.
Viva Pataca started the 2008/09 season with the Sha Tin Trophy, which had a surprising win that beat Good Ba Ba
Good Ba Ba
Good Ba Ba is a Hong Kong based Thoroughbred racehorse. In the season of 2007-2008, Good Ba Ba had five consecutive wins in Hong Kong G1 and G2 races. He was voted Hong Kong Horse of the Year....
. Then he won the Hong Kong Cup
Hong Kong Cup
The Hong Kong Cup is a Group 1 flat horse race in Hong Kong which is open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run over a distance of 2000 metres at Sha Tin, and it is scheduled to take place each year in mid December....
Trial again with went straight forward to the Hong Kong Cup
Hong Kong Cup
The Hong Kong Cup is a Group 1 flat horse race in Hong Kong which is open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run over a distance of 2000 metres at Sha Tin, and it is scheduled to take place each year in mid December....
, but only finished fourth.
Viva Pataca started the 2009 year with Steward's Cup again, with running third again. But he successfully defend the Hong Kong Gold Cup
Hong Kong Gold Cup
The Hong Kong Gold Cup is a Hong Kong Thoroughbred horse race held annually since 1979 at Sha Tin Racecourse. It is open to horses three years of age and older.Run on turf, it was initially run over a distance of 1800 Metres, but is now set at 2,000 metres and it offers a purse of HK$...
title. Then he compete the Chairman's Trophy as a preparation to the Queen Elizabeth II Cup
Queen Elizabeth II Cup
The Queen Elizabeth II Cup is a Group One Thoroughbred horse race at Sha Tin Racecourse in the New Territories, Hong Kong. Established in 1975 by the Royal Hong Kong Jockey Club, it is run annually in April at a distance of 2,000 metres on turf. Prior to 1997 it was run at 2,200 metres...
, which he finished in third. In the Queen Elizabeth II Cup
Queen Elizabeth II Cup
The Queen Elizabeth II Cup is a Group One Thoroughbred horse race at Sha Tin Racecourse in the New Territories, Hong Kong. Established in 1975 by the Royal Hong Kong Jockey Club, it is run annually in April at a distance of 2,000 metres on turf. Prior to 1997 it was run at 2,200 metres...
, he finished in second behind the winner Presvis. Viva Pataca finished the season with winning his 3rd Chater Cup title in four years.
Viva Pataca become the Horse of the year in 2008/09 1st time in his racing life.