John Moore’s many career successes have meant that his beaming post-victory smile is an oft-photographed phenomenon, and the trainer’s visage has rarely been brighter than after last year’s HKG1 Hong Kong Classic Mile. Able Friend scored a breathtaking win from stablemate Designs On Rome that day, a result that announced the pair as stars on a trajectory to the very top, and heading into this season’s renewal Moore has his hopes pinned on three new aspirants.
Arpinati, Savvy Nature and Helene Happy Star comprise the Moore trio that will line-up in Sunday’s (18 January) HK$8 million HKG1 Hong Kong Classic Mile, with each aiming to go some way to at least partially filling the hoof prints of two of the best horses to have ever graced the Sha Tin turf.
Moore, just back from the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, reports that all three are in good heart with the first leg of the Hong Kong Four-Year-Old Series just three days away. With only seven Hong Kong starts between them, the veteran handler expects to learn plenty from the race.
“The jury’s still out with respect to the three of them,” he said. “We’re waiting to see the outcome of Sunday’s race to get a better idea of where we’re at with their prep. But I’d have to put Arpinati as probably the pick of the three over the mile, I think he’s the perfect horse at the distance.”
The Italian import has raced four times in Hong Kong, twice last term and twice this, and although he is yet to make the winner’s circle, the Lucky Story gelding has never finished more than a length and a quarter behind the winner on each occasion. Last time, on 28 December, Arpinati finished second for a third time in succession as he conceded 9lb to the winner in a 1400m Class 2.
“He only got beaten at the weights last time but he showed he’s a tenacious type and he’s genuine. The only quirkiness he has is in the gates but from then on he’s a real trier. I’d expect him to be very close to the money,” said Moore of the Siu Pak Kwan-owned bay, winner of three from four starts in Italy in 2013, including a G3, and third in the G1 Gran Criterium (1500m).
“Arpinati would have to be at the top of the list of my three for Sunday but I’m really looking forward to seeing the other two finish their races off strongly and just show me that we’re right on target with respect to their training programmes,” continued Moore, whose longer range target is the HKG1 BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m) on 15 March.
“Helene Happy Star, we started him off short over 1200m and he got home to run third first up, but you can forget the second run when he was down the field in a muddling race. He and Savvy Nature will be looking to go over more ground, whereas Arpinati can be right up on the speed ready to pounce,” said Moore.
Helene Happy Star, successful over 2000m at Listed level in England, seems a natural for next month’s second leg, the HKG1 Hong Kong Classic Cup (1800m), as well as the Derby itself, and the same applies to Savvy Nature. The latter won the G2 Moonee Valley Vase (2040m) in Australia last season and was G1 placed in the Spring Champion Stakes (2000m). He also ran fourth in both the G1 Rosehill Guineas (2000m) and G1 Australian Derby (2400m).
The Savabeel gelding stretched his legs on the turf at Sha Tin this morning (Thursday, 15 January) and clocked an easy 54.4s (27.9, 26.5) for 800m under big-race pilot Nash Rawiller.
“Savvy Nature went from the 1800m start this morning and his jockey was full of praise,” said Moore. “He’ll find the mile a little on the short side but he’ll be doing the best of his work at the finish. He looked an absolute picture this morning and I’m looking forward to the Derby trial (HK Classic Cup) and the Derby - I think I’ve got the right horse.”
Moore was in Australia when Arpinati worked the turf on Monday, covering 800m in 53.5s (27.5, 26.0), and the previous Friday Helene Happy Star had galloped on the all-weather in 51.8s (27.5, 24.3). Umberto Rispoli will ride the former on Sunday while Gerald Mosse will be atop the latter.
“Arpinati and Helene Happy Star will be doing a little bit of work tomorrow on the all-weather,” revealed the trainer.
A field of 11 will go to post for the first big test of the four-year-old generation, including two exciting greys, the Tony Millard-trained Divine Calling, the mount of Joao Moreira, and the Richard Gibson-trained Giant Treasure, who will have Douglas Whyte in the plate.
Caspar Fownes is seeking a second win in the race after Lucky Nine obliged in 2011, and this time the trainer will saddle the talented Gun Pit and last season’s G1 Prix du Jockey Club fifth Gonna Run. The Tony Cruz-trained Beauty Only and Anticipation, the John Size-trained Thunder Fantasy and the Me Tsui-trained Flying Moochi complete the line-up.
The three-race Hong Kong Four-Year-Old Series also consists of the HKG1 Hong Kong Classic Cup (1800m) on Sunday, 15 February and the HKG1 BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m) on Sunday, 15 March.
Past winners of Hong Kong Classic Mile (since 1992)
