Moore Favourites Land Plum Longines HKIR Draws

[Wandering Eyes]

HONG KONG — A cold wind was blowing through the Sha Tin parade ring when fields were drawn Thursday morning for the four races that comprise the Longines Hong Kong International Races, but trainer John Moore was certain to have been feeling at least a bit of inner warmth after his two likely favourites drew barriers that should suit their styles.

Aethero (Aus) (Sebring {Aus}) will attempt to become the first 3-year-old winner of the G1 Longines Hong Kong Sprint, and, after expressing his desire for an outside alley, Moore was duly pleased after the strapping gelding landed gate 10 in a field of 14.

“I’m happy with barrier 10, it’s not a bad gate at all–I was looking for eight,” Moore told the HKJC’s David Morgan. “There’s a lot of pace influence inside him, but he’ll gather pace quickly and that’ll give him options to where he wants to be.” Later he added, “He can be a fraction slow to begin with before he gets into hat high tempo. It gives a chance to weigh up the options.”

Aethero completed his race preparations Thursday with a gallop along the riverside part of the track and Moore believes the gelding is ready for Sunday’s assignment.

“He’s very exciting, he has an engine,” Moore said. “He looks like he could go on to be a champion. He’s got everything about him–appearance, stride, the athleticism, it’s very exciting.”

Beauty Generation (NZ) (Road to Rock {Aus}) will have a chance to equal the record of Good Ba Ba (Lear Fan) when he shoots for a third straight win as the likely betting choice in Sunday’s G1 Longines Hong Kong Mile. The 7-year-old will begin from stall five, while another pace presence Ka Ying Star (GB) (Cityscape {GB}) drew the fence.

“He’s drawn gate five and that gives him the opportunity to gather speed and let Ka Ying Star go to the front. In all probability he’ll be racing outside the leader,” Moore told Morgan.

Beauty Generation, who rides a two-race losing streak into Sunday’s Mile, pleased Moore in his final pre-race gallop Thursday morning.

“We’ve done a few other things in the stable, which I sat down and discussed with the stable staff–routine things that we could implement to make sure that there was nothing left to chance. We’ve done all we can,” he said.

Dual Group 1-winning miler Indy Champ (Jpn) (Stay Gold {Jpn}) will leave from gate three and should enjoy a good run in transit, while the connections of Persian Knight (Jpn) (Harbinger {GB}) would have been far happier than last year after he drew gate six Thursday. He was saddled with post 14 when fifth to Beauty Generation last December. Waikuku (Ire) (Harbour Watch {Ire}), who won the G2 Jockey Club Mile last time, will have to overcome the 10 hole.

Exultant (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) is also going for back-to-back HKIR victories in the G1 Longines Hong Kong Vase (2400m), but he was done the fewest favours at the draw, and it will be up to Zac Purton to work out the right trip from gate 14. But don’t call trainer Tony Cruz worried.

“I don’t like him to be stuck in traffic going fast and slow,” the conditioner told South China Morning Post. “I’m sure there’s one or two horses who will lead and to be on their outside is even better. I’d prefer to be out there–I’m happy with the draw.”

Team Ballydoyle were equally luckless at the draw, with G1 Investec Derby hero Anthony Van Dyck (Ire) (Galileo {Ire})–who races with blinkers for the first time Sunday–and Mount Everest (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) drawn immediately inside of the favourite. Deirdre (Jpn) (Harbinger {GB}) and Lucky Lilac (Jpn) (Orfevre {Jpn}) landed the two innermost stalls.

With just eight runners signed on for the G1 Longines Hong Kong Cup, the draw becomes somewhat less critical. Magic Wand (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) is the potential market leader and will begin from stall two beneath Ryan Moore, while the Archipenko full-brothers Time Warp (GB) and Glorious Forever (GB)-winners of the Cup in 2017 and 2018, respectively, drew in six and five, and are expected to fuel the pace.

 

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