Pays to Pay Attention in Al Quoz

In the relatively brief history of the G1 Al Quoz Sprint, Hong Kong-based runners have done their fair share of damage. The blue-collar Joy and Fun (NZ) (Cullen {Aus}) took down top honors when the event was contested over 1200 metres in 2010 and ran in the top three on two occasions after it was shortened to five furlongs in 2011. Amber Sky (Aus) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}) tore down the straight to take the Al Quoz trophy in 2014, while Peniaphobia (Ire) (Dandy Man {Ire}) was gallant in finishing runner-up to Sole Power (GB) (Kyllachy {GB}) 12 months ago, with Amber Sky a good fourth.

Though a jurisdiction relatively small in numbers, Hong Kong fields two of Saturday's leading chances. Trainer John Moore, who registered his lone DWC night success courtesy of Sterling City (Aus) (Nadeem {Aus}) in the 2014 G1 Golden Shaheen, will tighten the girth around Not Listenin'tome (Aus) (Dylan Thomas {Ire}), who enters the Al Quoz in cracking form. A Group 2 winner and multiple Group 1-placed in Australia, the A$270,000 Inglis Easter Yearling purchase has amassed an imposing record over the 1000 metres. Not Listenin'tome took out the National Day Cup H. in October, and a third-place effort behind Peniaphobia in the six-furlong G1 Longines Hong Kong Sprint Dec. 13 saw him assigned top weight of 133 pounds in the Bauhinia Sprint Trophy over the straight course just 19 days later. He defeated the very useful Strathmore (Aus) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) by a length while spotting that one 18 pounds, and while a subpar seventh behind Aerovelocity (NZ) (Pins {Aus}) in the Centenary Sprint Cup at three-quarters of a mile Jan. 31, gave Golden Shaheen hopeful Super Jockey (NZ) (Sandtrap) 13 pounds and beat that one a nose in a Class 1 handicap Mar. 6. Ryan Moore handles the riding duties, and his trainer is “very confident” about the task ahead.

“His riding boy said to me he is 200%, which is what you want to hear, and from that point of view he is a live chance,” Moore offered. “He looked a picture of health [Thursday] morning, he is eating up and he hasn't dropped a lot of bodyweight getting here.”

Peniaphobia has won half of his 14 tries at Saturday's distance, but his last victory over five was better than a year ago. Seventh to Not Listenin'tome in the National Day Cup, he managed to overcome the disadvantageous widest barrier to wire the 2015 Hong Kong Sprint and was free of excuses when third in the Centenary Sprint Cup. A recent barrier trial up the Sha Tin straight was smooth as silk, he has Joao Moreira calling the shots and a Hong Kong quinella is not out of the question.

Drawn just to the outside of that duo is Ertijaal (Ire) (Oasis Dream {GB}), who is the likely market leader on the back of a pair of spectacular efforts over the course and distance at this year's Dubai World Cup Carnival. Sheikh Hamdan's homebred rides the crest of a four-race winning skein overall and returned from a 10-month absence to simply dismantle a field by four lengths on opening night of the Carnival Jan. 7, carrying 131 pounds to victory. He proved that effort was no fluke by defeating Fityaan (GB) (Haafhd {GB}) by two easy lengths in a Feb. 4 handicap. The latter returned to surprise his 10 rivals in the G3 Meydan Sprint on Super Saturday, holding off the pace-pressing Jungle Cat (Ire) (Iffraaj {GB}) and defending champion Sole Power, who slalomed his way down the straight to just miss over his preferred distance.

Australian speedball Buffering (Aus) (Mossman {Aus}) proved a length too classy for his rivals in the G1 Winterbottom S. in Western Australia in November, then proved just as tough to handle on the East Coast when zipping home the 1 1/2-length winner of the Magic Millions Plate over 1300 metres Jan. 9.

'TDN Rising Star' Lady Shipman (Midshipman) will try to flaunt her speed from the widest post, i.e. nearest the stands' side rail. She will have to deal with a ton of other pace to her inside and one would not be wrong to be critical of the overall strength of American turf sprinters not named Undrafted (Purim) on the international stage.