With second placings in major Hong Kong sprints at his past three starts, Beat the Clock was long overdue to post a big win and it came at Sha Tin on Sunday when the four year-old son of Hinchinbrook captured the Group II Sprint Cup.

Winning rider Joao Moreira declared that Beat The Clock was potentially “the best sprinter” in Hong Kong after he scored a last-to-first win in the 1200 metre sprint.

The John Size-trained Beat The Clock had proven his mettle with three runner-up finishes in his last three starts: in the Group III Chinese Club Challenge Cup Handicap (1400m) to Fifty Fifty, the Group I Centenary Sprint Cup (1200m) to D B Pin and the Group I Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup (1400m) to Beauty Generation.

However, it looked like it might be an uphill task for Beat The Clock to gain his breakthrough win on Sunday when he found himself at the rear of the eight-runner field.

The first to race up to challenge the leader Peniaphobia upon straightening was December’s Group I LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint hero Mr Stunning, but right behind him was Beat the Clock.

The two Size gallopers came away to fight out the finish, with Beat The Clock prevailing by a neck at the wire. His final 400m split of 21.03s was the fastest sectional recorded in any Sha Tin 1200m race in the last decade.

“He showed to me today that he is one of the best sprinters in town,” Moreira said.

“It wasn’t really a fast-run race, for me in the back that made it a bit harder to catch those up front. But even after I went early on him and made a long run, he still attacked the line all the way to the end. That’s the mark of a very good horse. He’s very classy.”

Size concurred: “He did a very good job. He’s back last in the race, and he sprinted quickly and sustained the sprint to secure the prize. He’s done well, he’s always promised to do that and today he’s delivered.”

Beat the Clock was a $200,000 NZB Ready to Run Purchase from the Prima Park draft and was a successful pinhook for them having been originally snapped up for $70,000 from the Yarraman Park draft at the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale.

Bred by Jilly Henderson, Beat the Clock has a 3 x 3 double cross of Danehill and has won six races and placed eight times, not missing a cheque in 14 starts.

Tough, sound and fast, he’s the perfect horse for Hong Kong!

He is the second winner for Group III placed Lion Hunter mare Flion Fenena and is the 13th stakes-winner for Hinchinbrook, who has a growing reputation in Hong Kong where he has had five winners from eight runners.

A three-quarter brother by Fastnet Rock to champion sire Snitzel, Yarraman Park’s Hinchinbrook has 11 entries for Inglis Easter.