Back for ‘Moore’

Not infrequently, leading trainer John Moore saddles up three or four or sometimes even five runners in feature races in Hong Kong. And no one will be busier this weekend than the 64-year-old, who will be represented by no fewer than seven horses in the Longines Hong Kong International Races. 

Moore has seen it all in Hong Kong, having been involved in the business locally since the professional era began over four decades ago. An assistant to his legendary father George to start, Moore went out on his own in 1985 and has registered nearly 1400 victories, making him easily the winningest trainer in history. For all his success on home turf, it was not until May 2013 that Moore registered his first Group 1 on foreign soil courtesy of then-stable inmate Military Attack (Ire) (Oratorio {Ire}) in the Singapore Airlines International Cup (Military Attack, bound for this year’s G1 Hong Kong Cup, has since been transferred to the barn of Caspar Fownes). 

While Military Attack endured a tough trip when favored in this year’s G1 Dubai World Cup, the Moore stable did not walk away empty-handed on the big night, as its top sprinter Sterling City (Aus) (Nadeem {Aus}) led home a Hong Kong 1-2 in the G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen over Rich Tapestry (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}). For good measure, Moore followed up in this year’s SAI Cup with Dan Excel (Ire) (Shamardal), who defeated Military Attack into third. Dan Excel was being pointed for an Australian campaign and a possible appearance in the G1 Cox Plate this past October before taking ill and is not among the horses that will race this weekend. But Moore stands arguably the best chance of any trainer to record multiple HKIR successes. 

Able Friend (Aus) (Shamardal) will be an odds-on favorite to give Hong Kong a ninth consecutive victory in the G1 Longines Hong Kong Mile and carries the same silks as Able One (NZ) (Cape Cross {Ire}), who took down the 2011 Mile. Despite reportedly being short of peak fitness last time out in the G2 Jockey Club Mile, the 1300-pound monster–whom the locals refer to as ‘Big Red’–motored down the stretch to defeat reigning champion miler Gold-Fun (Ire) (Le Vie dei Colori {GB}) and 2012 Mile hero Ambitious Dragon (NZ) (Pins {Aus}) with a minimum of fuss (VIDEO). 

“It was a phenomenal run last time and we thought he was underdone,” Moore said. “I don’t need to do much more with him. I put him down the back over the grass the other day because it had rained on the dirt track and I didn’t want the same problem with his hind quarters that he had earlier in the season. He did that and he’ll do it again on Thursday.” 

The conditioner knows a good horse when he sees it, but he’s clearly smitten by Able Friend and goes into the International Races full of hope. 

“Well, he could be anything, couldn’t he?,” Moore asked rhetorically. He was brilliant winning the lead-up and he heads our team this year, which is the best hand I’ve ever had on International day, and not just in quantity but also in quality.” 

Able Friend has arguably supplanted Designs on Rome (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) as the stable’s top runner. And that’s saying something, given that 4-year-old’s victories in the 2014 Hong Kong Derby (over Able Friend) and subsequently in the G1 Queen Elizabeth II Cup, in which he pegged back Military Attack in the final 50 yards under a perfect ride from Tommy Berry. Leading jockey Joao Moreira will be at the controls Sunday, and Moore thinks the experience the ‘Magic Man’ has gained on the reigning Horse of the Year in two prep runs leading up to the G1 Longines Hong Kong Cup will show this weekend. 

“Joao [Moreira] knows how to ride him now. He knows when and where to stoke him up,” Moore offered. “He’ll be peaking at the right time for Sunday. Look at his chart in the form guide, he’s on an upward spiral. He’ll need to step up again from around the 119 rating last time to 122 or 123 and I think he can.” 

Designs on Rome exits a defeat at the hands of the upstart Blazing Speed (GB) (Dylan Thomas {Ire}) in the G2 Jockey Club Cup over the 2000-meter trip Nov. 23 in which he finished well without threatening the winner. 

Moore and Moreira will team earlier in the card with Sterling City, who despite four unplaced efforts since his victory in the desert, maintains the confidence of the stable. 

“He’s primed and ready to go,” the conditioner commented. “He wasn’t far away last year and he just needs some luck to be in the finish.” 

Sterling City, fifth behind Lord Kanaloa (Jpn) (King Kamehameha {Jpn}) last year, never had clear sailing last time in the G2 Jockey Club Sprint and despite finishing only 12th in that field of 14, was under five lengths behind the victorious and re-opposing 3-year-old Peniaphobia (Ire) (Dandy Man {Ire}). 

Moore will also send on Dominant (Ire) (Cacique {Ire}) in defense of his title in the G1 Longines Hong Kong Vase over the 2400 meters, with Moreira picking up the ride on the 6-year-old entire. Fifth, beaten just 2 1/2 lengths behind Gentildonna (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) in the G1 Dubai Sheema Classic, he has been disappointing in three starts this preparation, including an 11th in the Jockey Club Cup. But one ignores runners from this barn at one’s own peril. 

“There’s a question mark against him on his current form but it was the same scenario last year and he came out and won,” Moore warns. “The trip suits, we’ll ride him cold and he was just too close in the run the other day behind Blazing Speed.” 

The barn will also be represented by Flagship Shine (Aus) (Tale of the Cat) in the Sprint; Secret Sham (Aus) (Shamardal) in the Mile; and Same World (GB) (Hawk Wing) in the Cup.