There was no repeat G3 Korea Sprint (1200m, sand) victory for Hong Kong at Seoul Racecourse on Sunday afternoon (6 September), with Japan dominating the race and Gorgeous Win the first Sha Tin-based galloper home in fifth.

Hong Kong launched a three-pronged attack on Korea’s premier sprint after Self Improvement’s victory in the race 12 months ago, but it was Japanese pair Dragon Welds and American Stage who fought out a ding-dong battle down the home straight before the former prevailed by two lengths as the 1.8 favourite.

Danny Shum’s Gorgeous Win travelled the handiest of the Hong Kong trio under Richard Kingscote, tracking the leading pack into the straight and at one point looking likely to threaten the top four before crossing the line in fifth, seven-and-a-quarter lengths off the winner.

“He ran a great race,” said Kingscote of the 22/1 chance, who jumped from the outside gate of 16. “Danny’s team had him in good nick, and I thought the application of the eye shields was a very good idea. It’s not a surface the horse is used to, and I thought they were very helpful with us being in the kickback. The horse did everything right, ran strongly all the way to the line and I was happy with him.

“We had a difficult barrier to overcome, and we did that and everything worked out nicely. The Japanese have been thriving on the international stage, and it’s a surface they know well. Hats off to the Japanese owners, breeders and trainers – they’ve really stepped up and they are doing well.

“It’s been a good weekend. Everything has gone smoothly. They’ve looked after us well here and I must thank Danny and his owner for bringing me out here,” he added.

Manfred Man-trained Self Improvement travelled back and wide under Dylan Mo in an attempt to replicate last year’s barnstorming performance down the middle of the track, but he wasn’t able to make an impact, eventually beating home only two runners in 14th.

One of those was Tony Cruz’s Beauty Waves, who was slow away and never in the race.

Jerry Chau tried to drive Beauty Waves into the race up the rail after his slow break, and the six-year-old wasn’t far off midfield turning for home, but the son of Starspangledbanner had nothing to offer late.

“That’s just racing. The horse just didn’t handle the surface,” Chau said. “When he tried to jump his back foot slipped so that is why he jumped slowly and the race was finished already. I tried to get to the rail and save some ground but we were too far back.”

Dragon Welds earned himself a berth in the G1 Breeders’ Cup Sprint (1200m, dirt) at Keeneland on 31 October.