Success at Sha Tin today replaced yesterday’s disappointment at Dubai for veteran trainer John Moore when his five-year-old Mizzen Mast gelding Harbour Master gave him second HKG3 Premier Plate in two years.
Moore was still in Dubai attending to Designs on Rome who finished fourth behind French filly Dolniya in the Dubai Sheema Classic, but was informed of the victory and immediately contacted his stable to offer his congratulations.
Ridden by Joao Moreira, Harbour Master was smothered towards the rear and kept wide due to the dawdling pace set first by race-favourite Helene Super Star and then by Flame Hero who pushed through on the rail with 1000 metres to go in the 1800m race.
Moreira then decided to let the horse slide forward and the response was better than he expected.
“I just let him move forward and he made too much ground turning for home, may be a little bit too early,” he said, adding: “But then, that’s probably what got him to win the race.”
Harbour Master hit the front with more than 200 metres to spare and was starting to idle when the Danny Shum-trained Mr Gnocchi unleashed a powerful finishing burst that took him around the field from last to within a short-head of the winner at the post.
Packing Llaregyb also rattled home to grab third placing, a neck further back, while Rewarding Hero finished fourth, a half length further back.
Helene Super Star, who had been prominent until the straight, weakened tamely to finish 10th, five lengths from the winner.
Moore had two runners in the race but had, in an interview two days earlier, said he favoured Harbour Master over Rewarding Hero.
Moreira was of the same opinion.
“The horse has been doing well since last run and I was quite confident he would run a good race today. He will improve further in the future,” he said.
Moore last won the Premier Plate in 2013 with Military Attack which then went on to win the G1 Audemars Piguet QE II Cup.
Mr Gnocchi had finished second to Bubble Chic in the same event last year and Shum said he was hoping he could go one better today.
“It was a terrific run but he just came up a bit short,” he said.
