Able jockey tops the agenda for anxious Moore
Trainer has tough time finding replacement for Yasuda Kinen
A worldwide search for a top jockey to replace Mick Kinane on the Champions Mile hero Able One for the Yasuda Kinen in Tokyo on June 3 remains unsatisfied.
Trainer John Moore said yesterday that the day of the Yasuda Kinen coincides with Group racing in Europe, Australia and Hong Kong, and he's now compiled a long list of negative replies from top jockeys.
Kinane, who won the Champions Mile on Able One on April 29, has a commitment to ride Viva Pataca for owner Stanley Ho Hung-sun in the Group One Champions & Chater Cup (2,400m) at Sha Tin the same afternoon as the Yasuda Kinen.
'When Mick was here for the QE II and Champions Mile meeting, it was Dr Ho who brought him here and the ride on Able One was a bonus for him, so naturally he'll be sticking with Viva Pataca,' Moore said.
'Gerald Mosse has agreed to go to Japan and ride Joyful Winner in the Yasuda Kinen, and that only leaves us to find a rider for Able One.' Mosse was the winning jockey on Joyful Winner when they combined to win the Group One Queen's Silver Jubilee Cup at Sha Tin at his start prior to the Champions Mile, in which he ran second to Able One.
Top Australian jockeys Damien Oliver and Darren Beadman have both been approached to do the Tokyo run, but commitments in Brisbane the previous day do not allow the time to make the connecting flights.
And Douglas Whyte and Brett Prebble have chosen to stay at home to maximise their chance of winning the most thrilling battle in years for the riders' championship.
Trainer Andreas Schutz will give his Yasuda Kinen contender Good Ba Ba a gallop in the reverse direction on turf this morning.
The Jockey Club's manager of tracks, Pako Ip Pak-chung, said Good Ba Ba and Champions Gallery would feature in separate gallops in the reverse (anti-clockwise) direction on the course proper after the end of normal trackwork.
Meanwhile, the situation regarding Japan's acceptance of Hong Kong horses for their premier mile race remained unresolved last night, as government officials seek to ensure there is no risk of infection of Japan's horse population with Equine Influence Virus (EHV).
Jockey Club international racing manager Mark Player said the decision now rests with the appropriate minister in the Japanese government. 'My understanding is that a full briefing and the appropriate documents were delivered to the minister on Monday, and that he had a meeting with JRA [Japan Racing Association] officials on Wednesday. At this stage, it's steady as she goes, and we hope to hear something positive [today, Friday],' he said.
The four horses that are intended to contest the Yasuda Kinen - Able One, Joyful Winner, The Duke and Good Ba Ba - have been under quarantine conditions at Sha Tin since Monday.
