Hong Kong Mile

(Group 1)

RYAN Moore emphasised why he is probably the world’s standout jockey right now with a determined victory on Japan’s crack miler, Maurice, in the Hong Kong Mile.

That win completed a Group 1 brace on the card for the Englishman following Highland Reel’s success a little under two hours earlier.

Maurice went into the race unbeaten in five starts this term and with two Group 1s already in the bag. The booking of Moore was a telltale sign but rumours that the colt had not settled well at Sha Tin meant that local hope Able Friend started odds-on to repeat his win of 12 months back - that despite the big chesnut flopping when third last time in the Group 2 Jockey Club Mile.

There was drama on the morning of the race when Able Friend was reported “mildly lame” in his off fore foot but was ultimately deemed fit to race.

John Moore had enjoyed the best day of his career 12 months earlier when Able Friend demolished his opponents but it was largely a day to forget for Hong Kong’s champion trainer this time around.

Able Friend was squeezed up in the early stages and never found his true rhythm. Despite that, the Shamardal gelding stalked Maurice and rolled into contention at the turn for home, quickening past Japan’s star to lead the field of 14 with a furlong to race.

But the Able Friend surge that the Sha Tin faithful have come to expect wasn’t in evidence this time. The local hero faltered on his run.

Maurice, meanwhile, responded to Moore’s punching force and quickened to seal the win close home by three-quarters of a length as 16/1 shot Giant Treasure, trained locally by Richard Gibson, edged the displaced champ for second. “He got to the front and just flattened out in the last 100 metres. I don’t know why,” said Moreira of Able Friend, while his trainer added: “I was hoping he would hold on in the closing stages but he couldn’t. Whether the foot issue was a factor I don’t know but he had three veterinary checks this morning, which wasn’t easy.”

The other Moore, notching his 15th Group 1 of a truncated season, couldn’t contain his grin as he and Maurice made their way to the winner’s arch.

“I was a little worried about Maurice today, with him travelling and things,” he said. “It took him a while to settle into the place but going to the start I was happy, he was moving well and relaxed well.

“I think in Japan last time (Mile Championship) he was slightly more impressive on the day but he’s had to travel in. That was his first run for a long time and he’s backed up three weeks later.

“He’s a very good horse and the race in Kyoto is always a very hard race and he’s probably slightly underrated on what he’s done. A stronger pace would have suited him better but he’s shown plenty of heart the last furlong. He’s a top-class miler.”

Moore picked up a three meeting suspension for an early race manouevre that affected Able Friend but more so Japan’s Danon Platina (7th). The grey endured a torrid run thereafter but closed off late to register the race’s fastest closing 400 metre split of 22.17 seconds.