The two John Moore horses did Hong Kong proud at Caulfield in Melbourne today (Saturday).
The first of his two entries, Mighty High, saddled with the top weight, finished an excellent third in the 1700 metres Sportingbet Handicap.
Starting favourite in an open race, Mighty High was up with the speed, fell back and then came roaring back again, thanks to a typically punishing Darren Beadman ride.
Beadman had come second in the race earlier, when his last minute call-up to deputise for the injured Glen Boss on Our Miss Jones had to watch the backside of the very good and easy winner, Atlantic Jewel ridden by another jockey well-known to Hong Kong race-goers – Damien Oliver.
The first race was won by Sacred Kingdom’s first ever jockey – Danny Nikolic – another jockey who once rode in Hong Kong some years ago on a permanent basis until a bust-up with the horse’s trainer Ricky P F Yiu.
As for Mighty High’s race, it was won by 5 to 1 shot Extra Zero and, again, ridden by a name familiar to Hong Kong racing – Craig Williams.
Another one-time Hong Kong-based jockey – Glyn Schofield won the first two races at Rosehill in Sydney including the very exciting Manawanui which paid a “huge” four cents for a win.
Schofield’s son, Chad, tasted success by winning a race in Newmarket in Sydney around the same time his Dad was winning on Manawanui.
In the Group 1, Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes, Moore’s Silver Grecian ran a respectable race to come in around seventh.
At least it finished close to the red hot favourite for the race – Smart Missile.
With Brett Prebble getting the emergency call-up to ride the horse and replace the injured Glen Boss, Smart Missile was in a shocking mood.
It was very difficult to load and was never ever a chance being almost last for most of the race.
Sure, it has to be ridden off the pace, but after two hundred metres, it would have had to be a super horse to win the race.
It rocketed home for around sixth when the race was all over.
The race was won by Toorak Toff ridden by Craig Williams who is riding in cracking form.
Let’s hope “Birthday Boy” Prebble has a better day tomorrow (Sunday) after rushing back for his rides in Hong Kong.
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