Trained by John Size and ridden by Joao Moreira, Nothingilikemore was favourite
for the 1600 metre feature and charged to the line out wide to win by more than
a length.Unluckily beaten at his previous start for the first time, Nothingilikemore has the overall record of six wins and a second from seven starts.
With the first leg of Hong Kong's three-race Four-Year-Old Classic Series secured, the talented Husson gelding is set for next month's follow-up, the Hong Kong Classic Cup (1800m), with the BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m) also a likely target, too.
"He's going to run well in the 1800," Size said. "The tempo's going to be a bit different but he seems to be able to adapt to that once he settles and follows horses. I don't think that will worry him and I'd envisage that he'd go to the Derby as well."
Size's previous Hong Kong Classic Mile winner, Sun Jewellery, followed up in the Hong Kong Classic Cup in 2016 before running seventh in the BMW Hong Kong Derby.
Nothingilikemore went into today's feature rated 10lb and more ahead of his rivals but the manner of victory, against the best of his peers, was impressive nonetheless.
"He keeps on surprising me every time that he goes out there. Each time that Nothingilikemore races, he's more relaxed," said Moreira.
"I was a bit concerned on the bend because he was kind of off the bridle but I know him very well and I knew that once I pulled him on the outside and gave him a clear run he'd dash home.
"Once I got him on the outside he started to quicken and make a run himself, I
didn't have to press the button. "With 200 metres to go I knew I had the race won and I was delighted to be aboard him."
A $40,000 Inglis Classic purchase from the Toolooganvale Farm draft for John Foote Bloodstock, Nothingilikemore is one of two winners from Lonhro mare Katisam, who comes from the family of Golden Slipper winner Polar Success.
Toolooganvale Farm will offer the current yearling from Katisam, a colt by Pluck (USA) at the 2018 Inglis Classic as Lot 466.
Katisam produced a filly by Sizzling last year and was then covered by Vancouver.
Nothingilikemore is the 13th stakes-winner for Husson, who covered 91 mares at Aquis Farm in Queensland last spring at a fee of $13,200. That was his biggest book of mares since 2012, so the switch to Queensland was a good one for the son of Hussonet (USA).
Nothingilikemore was his second Asian stakes-winner on the weekend with five
year-old gelding Obrigado Mais taking out the Macau Spring Trophy at Taipa, his
third win in a row and second stakes success taking his overall record to seven
wins from 17 starts.It was nearly a stakes treble for Husson on the weekend with his evergreen performer Husson Eagle a close second in the Listed VRC Kensington Stakes at Flemington.
Husson had yearlings sell for up to $200,000 at Magic Millions and has nine entries for Inglis Classic and two for Inglis Premier.
