2004–2005: Britain Trained by Sir
Mark Prescott at age two, Comic Strip won five of his six starts. After winning his last start in the October 2004
Silver Tankard Stakes, he did not run again until the end of July in 2005 when he finished fourth in a Handicap for three-year-olds at
Goodwood Racecourse. Sold to
Macau businessman,
Stanley Ho, he was renamed Viva Pataca for the
Macanese pataca, the currency of Macau.
2006–2011: Hong Kong Viva Pataca made his Asian racing debut at
Sha Tin Racecourse in
Hong Kong on 1 January 2006, finishing third in the 1400 metre Chang Jiang Handicap. Two weeks later, under new jockey
Christophe Soumillon, he won the 1600 metre New Asia Road Handicap then in mid February won the Chukyo Handicap. In late March, Viva Pataca won his first Group One race when he gave trainer John Moore his second win in the
Hong Kong Derby. In April, jockey
Gerald Mosse rode him to a sixth-place finish behind winner Iridescence in the
Queen Elizabeth II Cup. At the end of May he came back with a win under jockey
Michael Kinane in the Group One
Champions & Chater Cup. Returning to the track in October for the 2006–2007 campaign, under jockey Eric Saint-Martin, Viva Pataca finished fifth in the Sha Tin Trophy then third in the International Cup Trial. With Christophe Soumillon aboard, he finished fourth to
Pride in December's
Hong Kong Cup then in late January ran third in the 2007
Stewards' Cup to winner Armada. With Michael Kinane back in the saddle, in early March 2007 Viva Pataca was second by a nose to
Vengeance of Rain in the 2007
Hong Kong Gold Cup. After Vengeance of Rain won the 31 March
Dubai Sheema Classic at
Nad Al Sheba Racecourse in
Dubai. On his return to Hong Kong he was the
even-money favorite to win the 29 April running of the
Queen Elizabeth II Cup. However, Michael Kinane rode Viva Pataca to a strong win by 1¾ lengths. In the much anticipated 3 June "Rubber match" between the two in the
Champions & Chater Cup, Viva Pataca defeated Vengeance of Rain by three lengths while breaking the 2400-metre course record that had stood for thirteen years. In late August 2007, trainer John Moore had Viva Pataca booked to be flown to
Melbourne,
Australia to compete in the
Cox Plate. However, the trip was canceled after
equine influenza was reported in Australia. Moore then considered taking the horse to the United States to compete in the
Breeders' Cup Turf at
Monmouth Park in
New Jersey. Because no Hong Kong horse had ever competed in a
Breeders' Cup, it was widely discussed throughout the Asian media. However, owner Stanley Ho eventually decided against it. Following a layoff of nearly four months, in his return to racing on 21 October 2007, Viva Pataca finished seventh in the 1600 meter Group 3 Sha Tin Trophy Handicap. On 11 November 2007, Viva Pataca won the
Hong Kong Cup Trial with ease, successfully outrunning Packing Winner and Art Trader. Then he went straight forward to the
Hong Kong Cup, running second behind the winner
Ramonti with a short head distance. Viva Pataca started the 2008 year with the
Hong Kong Stewards' Cup, running third. But he won the
Hong Kong Gold Cup before he was invited to compete the
Dubai Sheema Classic in
Nad Al Sheba Racecourse,
Dubai, finished in second behind the winner Sun Classique. Viva Pataca then stand to defend the
Queen Elizabeth II Cup title but only finished third. Then he also failed to defend the Chater Cup title, which finished in second place. Viva Pataca started the 2008/09 season with the Sha Tin Trophy, which had a surprising win that beat
Good Ba Ba. Then he won the
Hong Kong Cup Trial again with went straight forward to the
Hong Kong Cup, but only finished fourth. Viva Pataca started the 2009 year with the
Hong Kong Stewards' Cup again, with running third again. But he successfully defend the
Hong Kong Gold Cup title. Then he competed for the
Chairman's Trophy as a preparation to the
Queen Elizabeth II Cup, which he finished in third. In the
Queen Elizabeth II Cup, he finished in second behind the winner
Presvis. Viva Pataca finished the season with winning his 3rd Chater Cup title in four years. Viva Pataca become the Horse of the year in 2008/09 1st time in his racing life. Viva Pataca is also the nominees of the Most Popular Horse of the Year 2008/09. ==References==