By Alan Carasso
Not so long ago, Not Listenin'tome (Aus) (Dylan Thomas {Ire}) was the horse everyone wanted to be on in races over 1000 metres and he was one of the best-fancied horses for the G1 Al Quoz Sprint at Meydan this past March. With Ryan Moore at the controls that evening, he never really picked up his feet, and there had been nothing to cheer since in four listless runs, including an eighth-place effort behind emerging sprinter Lucky Bubbles (Aus) (Sebring {Aus}) in the G2 Premier Bowl H. Oct. 23. All of which led to a quote of 42-1 for Sunday's Jockey Club Sprint, but the animals can't read, and the former Aussie galloper, third to Peniaphobia (Ire) (Dandy Man {Ire}) in last year's G1 Hong Kong Sprint, caused the boilover.
With Hugh Bowman in for the ride, Not Listenin'tome left there running and wasn't too far away early as Peniaphobia shaded 2014 Hong Kong Sprint hero Aerovelocity (NZ) (Pins {Aus}) for the lead, but when Dashing Fellow (Aus) (Duporth {Aus}) was hustled along outside, it left Not Listenin'tome in a perfect spot. Stalking a headstrong Peniaphobia and Dashing Fellow from third on the turn, the John Moore trainee was steered out into about the four path and threw down his challenge, but it was anything but a done deal, as Amazing Kids (NZ) (Falkirk {NZ}) and Lucky Bubbles were charging down the center and Able Friend (Aus) (Shamardal) loomed large spying a gap three off the fence. Inactivity finally caught up to the big chestnut inside the final 150 meters and although Lucky Bubbles got home well, Not Listenin'tome found enough to hit the wire first. Aerovelocity sat an ideal trip and finished an alibi-free third.
“Hugh rode him a great race, rode him to instructions,” said Moore, winning this for the fifth time. “He got across, got a little bit of cover there and he kicked. We're going into the race on the 11th with hopes of getting a good draw and a similar sort of run. Today, he was 100% and he managed to beat the best of what we've got up here. If we can keep him in this fine form, we look forward to being competitive against the internationals.”
Able Friend Not Disgraced in Return…
Making his first start in 49 weeks, Able Friend switched off at the back of the pack and rallied in the stretch, but could not finish off his race and settled for fourth in a performance widely praised by jockey Tommy Berry and Moore.
“It was a really good run and importantly he felt really good to me in his action,” Berry said. “I thought I was the winner but he just blew out the last furlong. He's right on track for wherever he goes next.”
Added Moore: “He was going to win at the 200m, but by the time he got to the 150m he'd already had enough. Considering the amount of time he's had off, though, you have to accept that and I'm sure he'll be a much fitter horse come international day.”
Moore suggested in the immediate aftermath of the race that the Hong Kong Mile would be the likely next start for the former Horse of the Year, but that a conversation with owner Dr Cornel Li was in the offing.
Pedigree Notes:
Winner of the G3 Zeditave S. and twice Group 1-placed in Australia for John Moore's brother, Gary, Not Listenin'tome is out of a stakes-winning mare who was runner-up in the G2 Sandown Guineas in 2006. Not Listenin'tome was an A$270,000 graduate of the 2012 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale, while his dam sold to Yu Long Investments for a sales-topping A$605,000 in foal to Snitzel (Aus) from the Arrowfield Stud consignment at the 2015 Inglis Australian Broodmare and Weanling Sale. She produced a filly by the Arrowfield stalwart last year and a colt by Snitzel this year.
Sunday, Sha Tin, Hong Kong
BOCHK WEALTH MANAGEMENT JOCKEY CLUB SPRINT-G2, HK$4,000,000 (£413,937/€481,442/A$689,859/US$515,655), Sha Tin, 11-20, 3yo/up, 1200mT, 1:08.26, gd.
1–NOT LISTENIN'TOME (AUS), 124, g, 6, by Dylan Thomas (Ire)
1st Dam: Flame of Sydney (Aus) (SW & MGSP-Aus, A$315,020), by Encosta de Lago (Aus)
2nd Dam: Flame of Atlanta (NZ), by Clay Hero (Aus)
3rd Dam: Plans Awry, by Topsider
(A$270,000 Ylg '12 INGEAS). O-Matthew Wong Leung Pak; B-M A Pitt & M Read (NSW); T-John Moore; J-Hugh Bowman; HK$2,280,000. Lifetime Record: GSW & MG1SP-Aus, G1SP-HK, 27-8-3-4, HK$14,213,070. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.[bullet ad=”irt-shell”]2–Lucky Bubbles (Aus), 123, g, 5, Sebring (Aus)–Bubble Below (Aus), by Hussonet. (A$90,000 Ylg '13 INGMEL). O-Lucky Syndicate; B-Gilgai Farm (Vic); T-Francis Lui; HK$880,000.
3–Aerovelocity (NZ), 123, g, 8, Pins (Aus)–Exodus (NZ), by Kaapstad (NZ). (NZ$120,000 Ylg '10 NZBPRE). O-Daniel Yeung Ngai; B-N E Schick & S J Till; T-Paul O'Sullivan; HK$460,000.
Margins: HF, 1 1/4, HF. Odds: 42-1, 14-5, 41-10.
Also Ran: Able Friend (Aus), Amazing Kids (NZ), Strathmore (Aus), Peniaphobia (Ire), Lucky Year (Aus), Dundonnell, Dashing Fellow (Aus).
Click for the HKJC chart and VIDEO. HKJC PPs. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
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