Australian trainer Chris Waller says there are no excuses for Preferment's midfield finish in the Hong Kong International Vase won by Cox Plate third Highland Reel.

Preferment finished seventh of the 13 runners on Sunday after failing to muster speed in the Sha Tin straight.

"He was a bit one-paced, but there were no excuses," Waller said.

"He'll be all right. It just wasn't his day."

It was champion Irish trainer Aidan O'Brien's day with Highland Reel giving him his first Group One win in Hong Kong.

Ridden by Ryan Moore, Highland Reel fought off the challenge from last year's winner, French horse Flintshire, with Dariyan third.

"He saw the trip (2400m) out extremely well," Moore said.

"When Flintshire came by him I thought I was in trouble, but this lad really dug in.

"He's plenty of class and the way he's improved through the year is quite something."

Highland Reel finished third in the Cox Plate in October, 5-1/2 lengths behind Preferment's Chris Waller-trained stablemate Winx.

Highland Reel is by Coolmore's champion stallion Galileo out of Australian mare Hveger, a daughter of grand broodmare Circles Of Gold, the mother of Elvstroem and Haradasun.

Preferment's jockey Hugh Bowman fared a little better in the International Sprint (1200m) when he rode former Sydney horse Not Listenin'tome to third place behind Peniaphobia and Gold-Fun.