A sanguine John Moore this morning (Thursday, 19 November) expressed satisfaction with the preparations of his stable stars ahead of Saturday’s Jockey Club Races, after watching Able Friend and Designs On Rome headline the session’s workouts.
Both are slated to line up in the G2 BOCHK Wealth Management Jockey Club Mile in two days’ time, the race being their final lead-up to the LONGINES Hong Kong International Races on Sunday, 13 December. Able Friend took the prize last term en route to a stunning triumph in the G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Mile, and from what Moore is seeing, Hong Kong’s Horse of the Year is tuned up for a repeat this weekend.
“He’s never been better,” said the handler. “I think he’s pretty close to peak. Judging by the way he returned from his gallop this morning and the huge smile on Joao’s face, this horse is not far off. I expect him to win, based on that work, and then on to the Hong Kong Mile.”
Able Friend set off from the 1800m start and galloped 800m of the backstretch in a comfortable manner under Joao Moreira, who did not ask a lot of his relaxed mount. The Shamardal gelding clocked 50.4s (25.7, 24.7).
Shortly afterwards, Designs On Rome paired off with a Class 4 stablemate in a 1200m all-weather track stretch-out and did all that was required of him. Last year’s LONGINES Hong Kong Cup (2000m) victor has that same race as his target next month and heads into Saturday’s mile without a race this season. The former Horse of the Year is returning after bone chips were removed from both front fetlocks, a procedure that happened back in May.
“Designs On Rome looked very well, I’m really pleased,” said Moore after the five-year-old had stopped the watch at 1m 22.4s (29.4, 28.6, 24.4). “We all know, after arthroscopic work, you’re never going to be 100 percent, but the thing that he’s got in his favour is that he knows where the winning post is and he doesn’t like being beaten. That’s probably his greatest attribute. He just grinds.
“From that point of view I can see him running a big race in this, getting to the line strongly. I’d be delighted if he could run second, third or fourth. That would be a very good lead into the Hong Kong Cup.”
Neil Callan got the leg-up on Moore’s BOCHK Wealth Management Jockey Club Sprint (1200m) candidate Not Listenin’tome and was clearly impressed with the five-year-old, who moved with some style down 800m of the back stretch turf in 50.8s (26.7, 24.1). The five-year-old looked destined for the top first-up this term when winning the HKG3 National Day Cup (Handicap) down the 1000m straight, but last start, at the course and distance, Not Listenin’tome was undone behind Able Friend when drawn wide in the HKG2 Premier Bowl (Handicap).
“Not Listenin’tome was good this morning,” observed Moore. “I just hope he draws a gate where he gets nice cover and then produces. The other day he was caught deep, produced his run quite early, got to the 100 metres and bottomed.
“All in all I’m really happy,” he continued. “Even Rewarding Hero (JC Mile) seems to have turned the corner this morning. Douglas (Whyte) was very complimentary of his rather choppy action, which this morning, he said, was totally different to when he rode him in the past. He strode out really well.
“Dan Excel (JC Mile) is the happiest horse. He’s carrying about 30 or 40 pounds more than when he won in Singapore, but he just does so well here. I think the run at the mile on Saturday will do him the world of good. He’ll probably go in the Cup next month, it will depend on how he runs.
“Going into this trials weekend, compared to last year, I’m more upbeat about these horses’ form.”
The Jockey Club Raceday is the premier lead-in to December’s LONGINES HKIR, which features the G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Cup (2000m), LONGINES Hong Kong Mile, LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint (1200m) and LONGINES Hong Kong Vase (2400m).
