'Vintage' Moore in line for more Best gifts

John Moore should celebrate his 'vintage season' by winning the Champions & Chater Cup (2,400m) at Sha Tin today as Best Gift finally gets his name on a Group One.

Moore's hopes of taking the trainers' championship went from slim to slimmer at Happy Valley on Wednesday when John Size crept one win further in front.

But Moore has enjoyed a marvellous season in the majors and in prize money, with his final stakes tally every chance of eclipsing all previous records except Tony Cruz's extraordinary 2004-05 season total of almost $114 million.

He has a live chance next weekend in the Yasuda Kinen with Joyful Winner and a good grip on the lion's share of $8 million in the Champions & Chater, saddling a powerful trio in Best Gift (Brett Prebble), Super Kid (Glyn Schofield) and Viva Pataca (Michael Kinane).

Best Gift has probably been the best Hong Kong horse this term not to win a serious race. In October, he won the Group Three Sha Tin Trophy under handicap conditions but has since been third in the Hong Kong Vase and photo-finished out of the Stewards' Cup and the QEII Cup, all at Group One level.

Moore has already drawn up plans to tackle Australia's Caulfield Cup and Best Gift can justify the October trip by winning today.

The 2,400m holds no fears, the gelding finished runner-up to Vengeance Of Rain last year, and wet or dry he is the horse they will have to beat.