Owner's faith in Moore's judgment pays dividend
Cornel Li Fook-kwan's trust in John Moore and decisiveness in the face of opportunity were the key ingredients behind the promising win of Able Too in yesterday's final event at Sha Tin.
Li has been a key owner in the Moore stable, almost since the beginning of his tenure at Sha Tin 23 years ago, and rarely has there been a bond of trust as strong as between this owner and trainer.
Of course, talk of trust is one thing, actively demonstrating it is something else entirely. But late last year, Li showed yet again that his trust in Moore was beyond dispute when he gave an instant 'yes' over the phone to the opportunity of buying Able Too.
'I was at Newbury when the horse had his first start last August and I was very impressed,' Moore recalled after Able Too had overpowered the strongly fancied Enthused and thereby denied John Size a treble.
'Here he was, a two-year-old having his first start, and he bullocked his way through a narrow gap in a big field to win well. I was right on the spot and had first crack at him. But with a promising horse like him, you have to act quickly or the Arabs will buy them. That's the great thing with Dr Li, he trusts me implicitly and when I called to suggest he buy this horse, he simply said, 'If you like him, go ahead'.'
Moore may not have been aware at the time but 20 years earlier, in this very same Newbury maiden, the great Nashwan made his debut a winning one also. The following season, Nashwan won everything in England - the 2000 Guineas, the Derby, the Eclipse Stakes and the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Stakes.