Happy Monies has Moore in the pink
John Moore heads to Sha Tin this afternoon with high hopes of a successful start to the new season.
The former champion trainer did not have the best of seasons last term but has strong winning chances in several events today.
And the way his team went yesterday, there is every reason to believe Moore is a man to follow in the early meetings.
His Happy Monies is down to contest a competitive-looking 1,000-metre event at Happy Valley on Wednesday and he looked ready to race as he put 1,200 metres behind him with stablemate Gainsborough's Boy.
Happy Monies has been galloping strongly since returning to the track and his work was again of a high calibre for Club jockey Glen Boss. The American-bred four-year-old handles the tricky city circuit and with any luck at the barrier will run a mighty race on Wednesday.
Gainsborough's Boy has had a solid preparation and he too should be respected when first produced.
Eagle Master is not getting any younger but the seven-year-old has dropped to an attractive mark in Class One as a result of five unplaced runs last term.
The gelding dashed the last quarter of a leisurely 1,200 metres in 23.6 seconds in a gallop which belied his years and there appears to be at least one more win in him.
His galloping companion, Sensible Choice, is a recent addition to the yard and is just the type to race well fresh. He held his own with his higher-rated stablemate and is another entered on Wednesday.
While Happy Monies looks a strong chance in his race, he is not going to get it all his own way and the David Hill-trained Debonair is one who looks primed for a big first-up effort.
Hill has not asked him for any great effort on the training track but he has gone about his work in a relaxed, confident fashion and looked a bundle of muscle as he idled over 400 metres in 26.3.
The son of Zeditave trialled well last week and should give them something to chase if he accepts - there are not many horses who can match it with him over the first 400 metres.
Ivan Allan has not pushed his horses early on but did put a telling piece of work into Quick Action. The sprinter was disappointing late last season but looked well as he picked up to run the last 400 of an 800-metre gallop in 22.6 with Man Of Honour.
Quick Action could easily spring an upset in this afternoon's Chief Executive's Cup.
Allan's Coach Maniac should find the trip of the final event a tad short but he sharpened up for his return to racing with a dash up the straight in 22.4 with Pasha.
