Not Listenin��tome roars to Sha Tin Vase success

31/05/2015

Not Listenin’tome prompted talk of future international exploits after bursting clear to win the HKG3 Sha Tin Vase (Handicap) under Joao Moreira this afternoon, Sunday 31 May.

The Matthew Wong-owned four-year-old, a Group 3 winner and twice Group 1-placed as a three-year-old in Australia, was earlier this week ruled out of a trip to the upcoming Royal Ascot meeting in England but delivered a performance today that suggested elite level contests could still be within his scope.

Not Listenin’tome, shouldering a featherweight 115lb, burst down the inside rail and scooted clear to register a convincing length and a quarter verdict in the 1200m contest. Stablemate Charles The Great (128lb) closed from deep to take second under Tommy Berry while the Tony Millard-trained Super Lifeline (117lb) followed the winner’s fence run but was found wanting in third, a further half-length back. The winning time was 1m 08.47s with Not Listenin’tome’s closing 400m split clocked at 22.75s.

“He was brought to Hong Kong to compete in our international races and that’s definitely the focus now,” said Moore, in whose colours the horse raced prior to his Hong Kong relocation. “We’re letting England go this time but definitely a race like Singapore (G1 KrisFlyer International Sprint) could be on the cards next year.”

More imminently, Moore is eyeing another local Group 3 contest, the Prince Jewellery & Watch Premier Cup (Handicap) on 14 June. That would mean stretching the Dylan Thomas gelding to 1400m but the trainer is not worried about the extra distance.

“This horse will have another run this season because he’s only had two into today, there’s the 1400m Prince Jewellery & Watch Premier Cup and Joao is of the opinion that he will stay so we will run him in that.”

Moore was delighted with Not Listenin’tome’s performance at only his third Hong Kong start. The gelding had finished third in his two previous starts this term.

“He needed that passage down the inside because there was nowhere to go earlier in the straight,” said Moore, “but Joao extricated himself very well and Not Listenin’tome kicked like the horse I thought he was – carrying that postage stamp weight – and on his runs in Australia he was the one to beat in the race today. He showed that – he won convincingly once he did get clear and I’m sure there’s better to come.”