Pray For Mir leads them a merry dance to win Lion Rock Trophy for delighted Cody Mo
Cody Mo Wai-kit continued his impressive season with his biggest career success at Sha Tin on Saturday, with Pray For Mir toughing it out from the front to win the Group Three Lion Rock Trophy (1,600m).
It was a well-executed game plan by jockey Matthew Chadwick, who pointed the Justify galloper straight to the lead from barrier eight ahead of the stalking pair of Red Lion and Chancheng Glory.
Chadwick was still travelling best of all as the field turned in, but he was immediately confronted by Chancheng Glory, who levelled up and looked set to go on by at the 200m pole.
But Pray For Mir refused to be denied and was roused by Chadwick to go on again, edging clear late for gritty half-length success.
They can't get past Pray For Mir! 💪
Cody Mo celebrates a first Group race win as his Justify 4YO leads throughout with @mattLchadwixk to capture the G3 Lion Rock Trophy at Sha Tin... #LoveRacing | #HKracing pic.twitter.com/acdDKLm7yX — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) May 31, 2025
On ratings it was an unlikely triumph, with the pair 17lb out of the handicap, but it was ultimately attitude that won the day – and Mo his first Group race.
'This is one of my targets for the season, now a dream has come true. I'm so happy – thanks to all my staff and the owners for their support,' he said.
'This horse is a very honest horse, you can see he has so many seconds and only loses by a little bit.
'Today Chadwick controlled the pace very well and the horse carried a light weight. At the end of the season, all the horses were maybe a bit tired and I kept him a bit fresh.
'[Matthew and I] have very good communication. This season I have been really supporting local jockeys and I'm happy together we could win a Group Three.'
Mo called his first season of training last campaign 'acceptable' after a haul of 20 winners, but the 47-year-old is already on the 38-winner mark for this campaign.
The win was a meaningful one for Chadwick, who has had a long association with Mo dating back to their time working together in Tony Cruz's stable.
The 34-year-old moves onto 31 winners for the season and home-grown talent was quick to return Mo's praise.
'He's always been very honest, he just gets beat, unfortunately. The weight really helped today,' said Chadwick.
'He was left alone and he relaxed really well and when [Chancheng Glory] put it to him, he just kept fighting and his quality just shone through.
'[Cody and I] go way back when we were both training in Tony's stable and we've come through the ranks together and it's great to be part of this with him.'
It was a race where it ultimately paid to be close to the speed, with the front two always in those positions in the run.
Beauty Eternal enjoyed a midfield trip and stuck on well to finish third, while Sunlight Power was the only horse to make ground from the rear to finish fourth.
The bitter disappointment of the race was undoubtedly the $3.7 favourite Johannes Brahms, who did not travel into the straight with his usual zest and he checked out quickly at the 200m pole to finish seventh.
That was one position behind the top weight Red Lion, who was unable to follow up his Group One Champions Mile win from Champions Day, finishing sixth after lumping 135lb.
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