MOORE REFLECTS ON THE 2021 EDITION OF THE LONGINES HONG KONG INTERNATIONAL RACES

By Graham Potter | Thursday, December 16, 2021

John Moore enjoys legendary status in Hong Kong. A six-time Hong Kong training premiership winner, Moore was the first trainer to land to pass the 1700 winner mark in Hong Kong. In recent years, before his age related, enforced retirement from the precinct and his return to Australia, Moore enjoyed a dream run courtesy of his superb handling of his star performer Beauty Generation who, for a number of seasons, was, and remains, a much-admired outright champion of Hong Kong racing, a mantle Golden Sixty has taken now up in the current setting. Moore returned to Hong Kong this month to renew old acquaintances and attend the Longines Hong Kong International Races. These are Moore’s thoughts on what is always a big day out.

“The Hong Kong International Races is always one of the most important days on the Hong Kong racing calendar … that’s for sure … and to have Golden Sixty win like he did just made it even more a very important day for Hong Kong racing,” said Moore.

“Golden Sixty kept the Hong Kong flag flying by winning very well. The Japanese, as is usual now, also had a great day. They are just going to get better and it is going to get more difficult to beat them but, as I say, one horse held the Hong Kong flag up high and that was good enough for this year.

“Golden Sixty is going to break all records … as far as I can see. He looks a nice, sound horse … and I think he’s going on to be a world beater.

“Whether he travels … I don’t know whether they will take him to Dubai and prove him on the world stage.

“I was told I should have taken Beauty Generation just to prove him on the world stage, even though he is still regarded as one of the top ten race horses over the last decade in the world, but I think Golden Sixty probably should make the trip to Dubai, if the owner is willing to do that.

“When the Japanese started coming down to Hong Kong, I knew that, as their breeding industry grew … and it is equal to anything on the planet now … they would be a hell of a competitor.

“To beat them with their industry and so many horses to choose from for participating in our events makes it very difficult for us to win races.

“In some respects, I think they come down for easy pickings. There are times where we just can’t compete with them. They can even bring down not necessarily their best horses and be super competitive.

“Having said that, it was great to see the Japanese champion … Love’s Only You … one of the world’s champs (a Breeder’s Cup winner) … participating this year. It made it an even more important event for Hong Kong.

“Of course, on a personal note, not participating and just watching is not in keeping with what I’m used to … but, who knows, maybe someday I can bring a horse back … but, yeah, I enjoyed the day immensely, excepting for the fall of course which put a bit of a dampener on things.

“I made it my priority to be there for this particular day. It was good to catch up with owners in Hong Kong and to put some orders together for the yearling sales that are coming up and also for tried horses in Australia and New Zealand. In that regard we are concentrating our efforts on the pacific region.

“It was a real pleasure for sure to catch up with a lot of old faces … new faces … and a lot of new introductions.

“Overall, to get 20 000 people into the track under very strict pandemic rules was quite an achievement by the CEO and the Club.

“It all added up to another very successful day,” concluded Moore.

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