Report: Hong Kong, Sunday
Sha Tin
JOHN MOORE may have missed out on the training title last term after being beaten on the final day by Caspar Fownes, but the Australian wasted no time making his mark for the new season with a 55-1 treble at Sha Tin.
Sunday's meeting was the first of a landmark campaign for Hong Kong racing as the Jockey Club (HKJC) is celebrating its 125th anniversary season.
Moore started 2009/10 in style, taking the hansdicap that opened proceedings with 5-2 favourite Sunny Smiles, the mount of Darren Beadman.
Moore supplemented that victory with two more handicap victories thanks to Holey Dancer and Sea Prince.
Renowned as a fast starter, Moore said: "I've had a total of 11 winners in the past six season openings - it's a good tradition to carry on.
"I am not concerned with the trainers' championship, though," he added. "My biggest goals this season is to earn HK$90 million in stakes money and more winners in the big races."
Moore's feats were matched by Tony Cruz, all of whose winners were partnered by star apprentice Matthew Chadwick.
The feature event of the opening card was the HKSAR Chief Executive's Cup, a HK$1.7million event over 1,200 metres that ended in a tight three-way photo finish.
Bottom-weight Nightlign (Almond Lee/Jeff Lloyd), a 6-1 chance, edged out favourite Tuscan Spirit by a nose, with second favourite Medic Power another neck behind in third.
According to Lee, the victory was a triumph for long-term planning. "We targeted this race as early as June," hesaid.
"As he already had a break early this year, I decided to keep him working, walking and swimming during the summer break, so he would be ready for this.
"To be honest, after all that preparation, I was a little bit disappointed with how hard it was for him! He just may not be as good as I thought.
"He's always been a nice horse, but he has had issues. First he got a stress fracture shortly after he arrived here, then he was too coltish and had to be castrated so he hasn't been the easiest to train. Today everything worked out for us." Lee later trained a double on the card when Wine Win took the Sheung Wan Handicap under "Greg Cheyne", a new face to the jockeys' ranks.
>>The Honourable Donald Tsang Yam-kuen, chief executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and also HKJC patron, performed the striking of the ceremonial gong in the parade ring to declare the new season underway.
This was preceded by a splendid lion dance featuring 125 lions, one for each season of the HKJC's history.
Over 49,000 race fans were on hand to welcome back Hong Kong's number one sporting passion, while betting turnover amounted to HK$833m compared to HK$830.6m for the corresponding fixture in 2008.
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