Sounds so good for Moore
Trainer John Moore has been white hot lately, making his improving five-year-old Sounds Best the most appropriate winner of tonight's World Firefighters' Cup (1,650m) at Happy Valley and he has the credentials to do it.
On January 1, Moore opened the year 13 wins behind championship leader John Size and only four to the good of those chasing him for second. But another four Moore wins on Sunday cut Size's advantage to five and, most notably, Moore has belted the next line of chasers - putting 15 wins between himself and third-placed Tony Cruz.
Add to those stats the fact that Moore has made a real habit of picking up the trophy races each meeting and Sounds Best sounds even better.
The lightly raced Irish horse has barely put a hoof wrong in his seven Hong Kong starts, especially since coming solid this season with outstanding efforts at his past three starts over the Valley 1,650m.
Racing from midfield positions, Sounds Best (Christophe Soumillon) has come with strong finishing bursts to just fail to down Dashing Thunder three runs ago but prove too good for Crystal and then Noble Silence at his next two runs.
They have been his only runs over this course and distance and Sounds Best looks to have taken a real liking to the Valley despite his run-on style.
Backers will have their hearts in their mouths tonight as his margins have not been nerve-friendly and the odds won't be big but Sounds Best has enjoyed a dream run with inside gates and that hasn't changed with gate four this time ensuring a nice trip before the gelding unleashes his powerful finishing burst.
The pace certainly won't be as strong as at Sounds Best's last run - when Regency Horse set a suicidal pace in the lead on January 4.
However, regular leader Money Strong (Eddie Lai Wai-ming) and forward runners Crystal and Sharki should ensure the race is not a complete crawl and Soumillon might even be a little closer in running without having to bustle.
Those leaders look the main danger to Sounds Best with Money Strong an interesting prospect if he can find his way to the front - something he has not done in recent starts for varying reasons.
The gelding has never been a chaser but has a great record in front at the Valley and has the chance to take that role if Lai can get him out of the gates readily.
At his last run, Money Strong showed signs of heart irregularity after a poor run when his rider eased him out of the race, but trainer Derek Cruz gave him a break to get over it and there was nothing with his recent barrier trial.
Honest Sharki (Brett Prebble) found the Group One four-year-olds too strong last start in the Classic Mile but did his usual thing and tried his all. Back to Class Two company, he has a chance to atone from a kind draw.
