Hong Kong Listens When Moore Speaks

Not Listenin’tome will attempt to make it back-to-back Hong Kong Group 3 wins when he lines up in Sunday’s Prince Jewellery & Watch Premier Cup, the feature event on an 11-race card at Sha Tin.

The 1400m contest promises to be a thriller with the likes of Rewarding Hero, Charles The Great, Real Specialist and Secret Sham also among the nine talented candidates primed to compete for the final Group race of the Hong Kong season.

Not Listenin’tome lived up to expectations when he opened his Hong Kong account last start as he got the better of stablemate Charles The Great by one and a quarter lengths in the HKG3 Sha Tin Vase. His trainer John Moore is optimistic that the four-year-old Australian import can deliver in another local Group 3 event again this Sunday.

“He won very nicely last time,” Moore said. “He jumped from a good gate that day but one has to remember that if he stayed in Australia he would be one of the top sprinters there.”

The Dylan Thomas gelding’s previous four wins in Australia and Hong Kong have all been achieved at 1100m and 1200m.

He finished second in the G1 Canterbury Stakes over 1300m in Randwick last year and Sunday’s race will be his first start at 1400m.

However, Moore has no concern about the horse’s ability to score over the seven-furlong distance.

“1400m is not a problem,” Moore said. “In fact I expect him to be our top sprinter next season, from 1000m to 1400m.”

“He looks great in the stable and he is going into the race a picture of health. He is doing everything and we are all happy with him. His weight is almost exactly the same as his last start, so it is fantastic. With Moreira on board once again he will be very competitive,” Moore added.

Stablemate Rewarding Hero is also a Hong Kong Group 3 winner this term. The son of Exceed And Excel won the Chinese Club Challenge Cup in January this year. He achieved another highlight last month when he finished a creditable second behind Able Friend in the G1 Champions Mile.

Though the horse has performed consistently throughout the season, Moore reckons that the burden of top weight is a concern.

“There is a noticeable weight difference, as Not Listenin’tome carried 10lbs less when compared with Rewarding Hero. Charles The Great also carries high weight and as Not Listenin’tome is an in-form runner with light weight on his back, the latter looks the one to beat,” Moore said.

Moore has also entered Exciting Dream in the race.

The Dennis Yip-trained All You Wish finished a close fourth in the HKG3 Bauhinia Sprint Trophy on his penultimate start. Tony Millard is double handed with Divine Calling and Super Lifeline.