RACING: Swinburn excels on Soviet

Soviet Line led a fine cast of British performers in Hong Kong yesterday, picking up £228,346 for winning the International Bowl at Sha Tin under Walter Swinburn.

The Michael Stoute-trained four-year-old started at 9-2 and, although trapped well back on the rail turning for home, came with a well-timed run to deny America's Nijinsky's Gold.

Heart Lake, trained in Ireland by John Oxx, was third, with Simon Dow's Young Ern running an excellent race to finish fourth. Richard Quinn, Young Ern's jockey, lodged an objection to the winner for interference, but the result was allowed to stand.

Stoute was full of praise for Swinburn's efforts: "I'm glad he listened when I said `don't panic if they go off fast'."

In the Vase the John Hammond-trained Red Bishop beat Reg Akehurst's Urgent Request, with Mark Johnston's Double Trigger and the Richard Hannon-trained Alriffa unplaced.

John Gosden's Emperor Jones was made favourite for the Cup but could manage only fifth to Australia's State Taj.