HK NOV 21 - ALL TOO EASY FOR ABLE ONE

By Hong Kong Jockey Club | Tuesday, November 23, 2010

The first running of the G2 Cathay Pacific Jockey Club Mile was won with the minimum of fuss by the John Moore-trained Able One.

It was almost by default that the Champion Miler was able to give five pounds and more to his rivals, as Darren Beadman was handed the type of easy lead that makes the son of Cape Cross very nearly invincible these days at his favourite trip.

“I couldn’t believe it when he was just allowed to go out there and dictate like that,” said the winning trainer.

“When you give Able One that sort of lead you’ve got a hard job in front of you.”

This was the perfect summing up as, predictably in view of the way the race had been run, Able One kicked at the turn in the style that has become his trademark, and although Thumbs Up ran on very strongly to close the gap to three quarters of a length the winner was never in danger.

The winning distance was, however, the same as that by which Thumbs Up had beaten Able One when the pair had met with the weights two pounds more in his favour in the HKG3 Mission Hills Sha Tin Trophy over the same course and distance, and, considering the way Thumbs Up closed off a slow pace, his trainer was anything but disheartened by today’s defeat.

“Beautiful”, was Caspar Fownes’ succinct assessment of the horse’s performance, and the stage now looks very much set for the best of three matches between the two on CXHKIR day in three weeks time.

Ridden by visiting Irishman Neil Callan on the first ride of his two-month contract in Hong Kong, the old champion Viva Pataca finished fifth, beaten only three lengths by his stablemate, Able One.

It was a run that gave John Moore hope of further glory for Hong Kong’s record prize money winner’s bid for the CXHKIR.

“That was a great first run of the season,” said Moore, “and it should have set him up for his tilt at the (G1 Cathay Pacific Hong Kong) Vase.”

More articles