Vengeance of Rain Pours It On in QE II Cup

New Zealand-bred Vengeance of Rain, winner of the Hong Kong Derby earlier this year, unleashed a powerful drive down the straight for jockey Anthony Delpech to win the Queen Elizabeth II Cup (HK-I) at Sha Tin Racecourse Sunday.

The David Ferraris-trained 4-year-old son of Zabeel overpowered runner-up South African runner Greys Inn and third-place finisher Russian Pearl to win by three-quarters of a length. The time for the 1 1/4-mile distance on good to firm turf was 2:01.8.

Vengeance of Rain became the first Hong Kong Derby winner to capture the QE II Cup in the same year.

Winston Chow Nam bought Vengeance Of Rain for $800,000 (Australian) from Melbourne owner Lloyd Williams, who raced him under the name Subscribe as a 2-year-old in New Zealand.

Vengeance of Rain is a sister to AJC Oaks winner Dizelle, the early Caulfield and Melbourne cups favorite.

Zabeel also sired the runner-up Greys Inn, who was foaled in the United States and transferred to South Africa, where the 5-year-old was trained by Mike de Kock.

Super Kid finished fourth, followed by Phoenix Reach, Bullish Luck, Epalo, Sambuca, Elvstroem, Elegant Fashion, Grand Armee, Perfect Partner, and Ain't Here; Touch Of Land did not start.

Disappointing were Australian stars Elvstroem, who won the Dubai Duty Free (UAE-I) last month and finished ninth Sunday, and 5-2 favorite Grand Armee, who struggled home 11th.