Not Listenin'tome, third in the 2015 Bauhinia Sprint Trophy, reaffirmed his affinity for a straight 1000 meters and entered the discussion for the G1 Al Quoz Sprint with a strong success under top weight in the New Year's Day co-feature Friday at Sha Tin.
A Group 3 winner and multiple Group 1 placed in Australia, the 5-year-old annexed the National Day Cup H. over this course and distance on seasonal debut Oct. 1, then was a tough-trip sixth behind Able Friend (Aus) (Shamardal) in the Premier Bowl H. going six furlongs Oct. 25. He bounced back to be third behind Gold-Fun (Ire) (Le Vie Dei Colori {GB}) in the G2 Jockey Club Sprint and filled the same spot behind Peniaphobia (Ire) (Dandy Man {Ire}) and Gold-Fun less than three weeks ago in the G1 Longines Hong Kong Sprint.
Asked to stay in touch early by Zac Purton, Not Listenin'tome was a stalking third as speedballs Amber Sky (Aus) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}) and Rad (Aus) (Foreplay {Aus}) set a good pace. The latter eased to the lead with 200 meters to race as Amber Sky called it a day, but despite giving weight all around, Not Listenin'tome showed his class to score by a comfortable margin. Strathmore, scratched from the Hong Kong Sprint, was locked away in some traffic at a crucial stage and got clear late to just get his nose down for second.
“He's really a straight-course specialist,” said Moore, who earned his fourth Bauhinia Sprint Trophy with the victory. “He is in the pinnacle of his career and is the perfect gentleman, you couldn't ask to train a nicer horse.”
The winner will stretch back our around a turn for the Centenary Sprint Cup Jan. 31, with a trip to Dubai further on the horizon.
Click for the HKJC.com chart and VIDEO.
BAUHINIA SPRINT TROPHY H., HK$3,000,000 (US$387,090), Sha Tin, 1-1, 1000mT, :56.28, gd.
1–NOT LISTENIN'TOME (AUS), 133, g, 5, Dylan Thomas (Ire)–Flame of Sydney (Aus) (SW & MGSP-Aus, $240,548), by Encosta de Lago (Aus). (A$270,000 Ylg '12 INGEAS). O-Matthew Wong; B-M A Pitt; T-John Moore; J-Zac Purton; HK$1,710,000. Lifetime Record: GSW & MG1SP-Aus, G1SP-HK, 19-6-3-4, HK$10,207,570.
2–Strathmore (Aus), 115, g, 4, Fastnet Rock (Aus)–Our Egyptian Raine (NZ), by Desert Sun (GB). (A$280,000 RNA Ylg '13 INGEAS). O-Mr & Mrs Iain Bruce. HK$660,000.
3–Dundonell, 129, g, 6, First Defence–Family, by Danzig. O-Elizabeth Lee. HK$345,000.
Margins: 1, NO, 1. Odds: 5-2, 17-10, 23-1.
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