August 2nd, 2013 - When news came through last month that the outstanding middle-distance mare, Snow Fairy, had been retired from racing, her fans across the globe were left to look back on some stunning performances, none more so than her 2010 victory in the Group 1 Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Cup at Sha Tin.

When the Ed Dunlop-trained daughter of Intikhab arrived in the former British colony in December 2010 she had already enjoyed a truly outstanding three-year-old campaign, her win at Goodwood in May of that year in listed company having tee’d her up for a superb victory on her following start in the Investec Oaks.

The bargain basement buy proved that win no fluke by following up in the Group 1 Irish Oaks at the Curragh, and on arrival in Hong Kong she had also finished runner-up to Midday in the Yorkshire Oaks and a brave fourth to Arctic Cosmos in the St Leger.

Prior to reaching Hong Kong the Ryan Moore-ridden filly had stunned a huge Japanese crowd at Kyoto by hacking up in the Queen Elizabeth II Commemorative Cup so was duly made 6/4 market leader in the racing betting odds to land the December Sha Tin feature.

Anyone watching the race at the time could have been forgiven for thinking that Snow Fairy had no chance a furlong-and-a-half from home when she had only one of the 13 runners behind her. Given the office by Moore however, Dunlop’s filly simply scythed through a quality field, producing a devastating last 100 yard sprint that carried her into the lead just 25 yards from the line and took her to a never-to-be-forgotten neck victory.

Sha Tin racegoers looked forward to seeing the star filly 12 months later but she picked up an injury a few days before the race and never got a chance to defend her crown. Her victory at the stunning Hong Kong track remains one that continues to be talked about to this day by fans and pundits offering 2014 betting tips.