Wide gates no barrier for locals at LONGINES HKIR draw

11/12/2014

Hong Kong trainer John Moore was unfazed today despite his much vaunted G1 LONGINES Hong Kong mile favourite Able Friend drawing gate 11 of 11 – the only one of his seven International day runners to draw a double figure barrier.

“It’s a not an issue,” Moore said, “Joao (Moreira) will still be looking for some cover and you’d rather draw a touch further in but he’s such a versatile horse it shouldn’t be a problem. Hopefully there’s some speed up front and he can slot in. If not, so be it. I can assure you we will still be going in with very high hopes.”

Moore and fans of Able Friend can take heart from the fact that three of the past four Hong Kong Mile winners – Glorious Days (13), Ambitious Dragon (11) and Beauty Flash (14) – have come from outside gates.

Gold-Fun, last year’s runner-up and the runner-up to Able Friend in the lead-up G2 BOCHK Wealth Management Jockey Club Mile at Sha Tin, is widely held as the main rival to Moore’s charge on Sunday and his trainer Richard Gibson was delighted to draw gate six. “Very happy with six and very happy with the horse. He’s in really good shape. Now it’s fingers crossed time for a trouble-free run,” Gibson said.

Ironically, Japanese trainer Hideaki Fujiwara, was less than enamoured with drawing the usually coveted gate one for Fiero. “Middle to outside is what I hoped most but I suppose now he will be able to travel on the rail, saving for a late run. We will find the right tactics and he is very versatile,” he said.

Moore’s emerging star Designs On Rome (gate three) and the evergreen Cirrus Des Aigles (four) fared best of the ‘big names’ in the G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Cup (2000m).

Cirrus Des Aigles’ trainer Corine Barande-Barbe was very pleased with the draw. “Draw 4 is perfect for us. We should get away nicely from there and find a good spot. We’re very happy with that,” she said.

Her assistant trainer Jean-Jacques Poincelet was even more exuberant. With a smile, he quipped: “It’s as if they gave away a place on the podium!”

Moore said that he was happy with the draw for top class middle-distance horse Designs On Rome as well as his lead-in to the race. “He’ll be at his peak on the weekend and he’s already shown that he’s right up there among the best horses in the world. I’m pleased with all of my horses leading into Sunday,” Moore said.

Hong Kong legend Tony Cruz could have been excused for any dismay to draw the widest gates in the Cup with California Memory (11) and Blazing Speed (12) but, like Moore with Able Friend, he wasn’t unduly concerned. “I believe California Memory still has a great chance and I’m very happy with him. He likes to come from behind so we’ll be patient with him from this draw,” he said.

As to Blazing Speed, Cruz said: “He’s 100% fit and even though he’s got that challenging draw we can be waiting on the outside, handy even, and I don’t believe he needs to be covered up. He’s a horse that can wait even if he doesn’t have any cover.”

Other barrier draw quotes:

LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint

BUFFERING(Gate 8) – trainer Robert Heathcote: “I was asked before the draw what I would like and I said four to seven, so I can compromise and take eight. On Tuesday morning I was about to get on the plane and go home. He couldn’t walk that morning and here we are Thursday morning and he worked lovely this morning. On ratings and form, if he was to reproduce any of his last three runs, he’s going to be right in the mix. We know the way he runs, he’s not the fastest horse out of the gates but his first 50m, once he musters, he gets going at a very high cruising speed. There’s some speed inside of us but Buffering has the speed to cross. I expect to see us up there in the first couple whatever happens.”

AEROVELOCITY(Gate 7) – trainer Paul O’Sullivan: “I’m happy with that gate. He should be able to get a nice run from there. I’d rather have drawn seven than one – Buffering will go forward and he’s a good one to follow.”

PENIAPHOBIA (Gate 6) – trainer Tony Cruz: “Today we’ve got alley number six and I think that’s a perfect position to be in. If he can sit just off the pace, fourth or fifth, I’ll be happy. He’s got a great chance. He’s the youngest horse in the race but he’s up to it. He hasn’t got the early speed any more so I’ll be happy if there’s pace on. As he’s matured he’s lost the early speed and now he comes home with a stronger finish than ever.”

SOLE POWER (Gate 5) – trainer Eddie Lynam: “Happy with that draw. I can’t use the draw as an excuse. I’ll have to think of another one now!”

GORDON LORD BYRON (Gate 2) – trainer Tom Hogan: “ I am happy enough with Gate 2 – that turned out well.”

STERLING CITY (Gate 3) – trainer John Moore: “He’s a fit, clean winded horse drawn a good gate. Happy.”

FLAGSHIP SHINE (Gate 9) – trainer John Moore: “He’s fit and well. Drawn out a bit but doesn’t really matter with him.”

SNOW DRAGON (Gate 10) – trainer Noboru Takagi: “Any draw would be fine for us. It is not an issue. 10 will be fine.”

LITTLE GERDA (Gate 1) – trainer Ippo Sameshima: “This is the best draw. Number 1 is our winning draw.”

STRAIGHT GIRL (Gate 13) – trainer Hideaki Fujiwara: “She needs to travel nicely without any pressure from outside, so from middle to outside was our hope. 13 will be a good draw.”

LONGINES Hong Kong Mile

TRADE STORM (Gate 5) – trainer David Simcock: “No complaints at all with 5, that’s an ideal draw I would think.”

ABLE FRIEND (Gate 11) – jockey Joao Moreira: “It’s not the best, I guess,” he said as he shrugged his shoulders.

GRAND PRIX BOSS (Gate 10) – trainer Yoshito Yahagi: “Hold up for the late run is his racing style, so the inner draw would be much better. But he is a type of horse who has some elements of surprise, so he will do something with this draw (10).”

WORLD ACE (Gate 4) – trainer Yasutoshi Ikee: “Number 4 best draw. Very good.”

LONGINES Hong Kong Cup

CRITERION (Gate 9) – trainer David Hayes: “Lost the toss there. Only two to go, three or nine and we were left with nine. Still, I guess he can stay out of trouble from there.”

ARCHIMEDES (Gate 2) – trainer Hideaki Fujiwara: “Best draw (2) I could have hoped for. Happy with that.”

FARRAAJ (Gate 6) - trainer Roger Varian said: “I’m pleased. We can go forward into that first bend to take up a good spot and hopefully then be in a striking position turning for home.”

LONGNES Hong Kong Vase

CURREN MIROTIC (Gate 7) – trainer Osamu Hirata: “There was only 1, 4 and 7 left. It was a lucky 7. Perfect draw for him.”

EMPOLI (Gate 12) – trainer Peter Schiergen said: “It’s not so good, the draw, but the main thing for him is that we get a decent pace.”

WILLIE CAZALS (Gate 3) – trainer Tony Cruz: “I believe the mile and a half will be perfect for him, he’s in good form and now he has a good draw. He’s spot on for this race.”