Premier’ Horses Lock Horns at Sha Tin

As is frequently the case in Hong Kong feature races, trainer John Moore sends out multiple runners, including the four top-weighted horses, in today’s Premier Bowl H. at Sha Tin.

Able Friend (Aus) (Shamardal) returns to action after dancing all the dances in the 4-year-old series last year. Winner of the Classic Mile, defeating Designs on Rome, he had the tables turned by the eventual Horse of the Year in the Classic Cup and Hong Kong Derby as the distances increased, while turning in spectacular efforts in defeat. The visiting Variety Club (SAf) (Var) soundly defeated 7-10 Able Friend in the G1 Champions Mile when the gelding was last seen May 4 and he uses this as an initial steppingstone to the Hong Kong Mile Dec. 14. 

While Joao Moreira rode the top-weight last season, he elects to stick with G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen hero Sterling City (Aus) (Nadeem {Aus}) for his second run this term. The gelding was first-up in the National Day Cup up the 1000-meter straight Oct. 1, a distance too sharp for him, and he came home an even sixth behind Bundle of Joy (Aus) (Magic Albert {Aus}). 

“He’s in good shape, he’s been working well and I think that race over the 1000 meters was almost like a barrier trial for him, so he’ll be going into this race still fresh,” Moreira explained. “It’s a very even race–those low-weighted horses will be very competitive,” he added.

One of those down in the weights that figures a huge threat is Aerovelocity (NZ) (Pins {Aus}). The 6-year-old went on a five-race tear last season, culminating with a narrow victory in the Sha Tin Vase H. over today’s course and distance May 25, but races for the first time since a runner-up effort in the Premier Cup H. over seven furlongs June 8. He has trialled brilliantly coming into this event and can take advantage of a double-digit pull in the weights.