From RACING POST in HKJacobee's supporters in the Chek Keng Handicap at Sha Tin probably wouldn't want the experience over again, but the Mercedes-Benz Hong Kong Derby hopeful arrived in time to land the race and left Darren Beadman a little more satisfied about his stamina. Jacobee had a perfect passage through the race from gate one, never having to leave the rail until things got serious in the straight, then he was held up briefly as a flurry of other runners staked a claim.At long odds on,

From RACING POST in HK

Jacobee's supporters in the Chek Keng Handicap at Sha Tin probably wouldn't want the experience over again, but the Mercedes-Benz Hong Kong Derby hopeful arrived in time to land the race and left Darren Beadman a little more satisfied about his stamina. Jacobee had a perfect passage through the race from gate one, never having to leave the rail until things got serious in the straight, then he was held up briefly as a flurry of other runners staked a claim.

At long odds on, it wasn't really the comfortable scenario that punters wanted to see but, with a late surge, the John Moore-trained four-year-old dived through to claim a happy ending and hold off Jamesina by a neck.

For Beadman, the race was confirmation Jacobee will run out the 2,000m he needs to stay in the Derby in March, but with qualifications.

"He had a good gate, a soft run and being held up in the straight I think even helped him to get right to the end of the 2,000m," Beadman said. "Last time, over 1,800m, he had to make a longer run and he came to the end of it in the last bit, so I think, if I had to do something similar today at 2,000m, he might not have been able to do it. But, in saying that, there were positives too - he's now won at the distance and he did it by having to go through them, going between horses and having a proper fight for it. That's something he has not had to do previously in his races when he's been coming down the outside in the open."

With Jacobee's rating now headed into triple figures when reassessments are made this morning, the gelding is already in the field for any of the four-year-old races.

"He won't have to qualify or earn his way in - he's already there," said Beadman. "In a way it's a shame that he's going this well this early because the Derby is almost three months away and he has to maintain his form. But, on the plus side, John can just give him some time off now, then just sit back and train him for the Derby. There is no pressure to get in the field."

Moore, who was absent celebrating the holiday season with his family in Phuket, has other Derby hopefuls and there will be others from rival stables emerging in the coming weeks, but Beadman was quick to point out that attitude would take Jacobee a long way.