In this photo released by the Hong Kong Jockey Club on its official website, Massive Sovereign (first left) crosses the finish line under Zac Purton during the Hong Kong Derby in the Shatin Racecourse on March 24, 2024.

HONG KONG - Former Irish stayer Massive Sovereign stormed to victory in the 26 million HK dollars Hong Kong Derby (2000m) under Zac Purton at Sha Tin on Sunday.

Massive Sovereign clocked the fastest time of one minute 59.85 seconds in Derby history since the race distance was changed to 2000m in 2000, bettering Golden Sixty's time of 2:00.15, set in 2020.

In a thrilling finish, Massive Sovereign charged from the tail of the field to beat Galaxy Patch by a neck. Front-runner Ka Ying Generation was a neck further back in third place as the top three all broke two minutes on the good to firm surface in front of 60,976 spectators.

Formerly known as Broadhurst when trained by Aidan O'Brien in Ireland, Massive Sovereign was starting only his second Hong Kong event, after having secured a place in the Derby with a stunning debut win over the same course and distance on March 3.

In this screengrab taken from a video released by the Hong Kong Jockey Club on its official website, Massive Sovereign crosses the finish line under Zac Purton during the Hong Kong Derby in the Shatin Racecourse on March 24, 2024.

Massive Sovereign's current trainer Dennis Yip, also the Hong Kong champion trainer in 2012-2013, said that the win was the most important success of his career.

"It's very exciting. I think the Derby for me is more important than the championship," Yip said. "But this one for my life is the big one."

"He's a very special horse with a very good mind. The last 200m I was very nervous but I rely on Zac. He is the champion jockey in Hong Kong and everything was good with the horse."

"I'm very happy, it's amazing for my life. What a memory," Yip added.

In this photo released by the Hong Kong Jockey Club on its official website, Zac Purton celebrates with Massive Sovereign after winning the Hong Kong Derby in the Shatin Racecourse on March 24, 2024.

Purton, who won the race with Romantic Warrior two years ago, was full of praise for the horse.

"I feel extremely honored and privileged to have found such a horse to win it. To win the race itself, it's the most prestigious race in Hong Kong.

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"He's shown us so far that he's the ideal horse here in Hong Kong and he's got such a good attitude. He just takes everything in his stride since he got here. I loved him in the mornings, you love a lot of horses in the morning but they don't turn up on race days - this guy has turned up on race day so far."