Joao Moreira sticks with Peniaphobia ahead of superstar miler Able Friend for Premier Bowl
Brazilian maestro stays on Cruz-trained sprinter for Sunday's feature
The racetrack rumour mill put Peniaphobia's disappointing first-up run down to more than just a lack of match practice but jockey Joao Moreira has stuck with the sprinter as he faces a familiar foe in Sunday's Group Two Premier Bowl at Sha Tin.
Even in the lead-up to Peniaphobia's seasonal return, trainer Tony Cruz was already dealing with whispers that his Group One winner was suffering with early signs of epiglottic entrapment and that the breathing problems would worsen under race pressure.
[Peniaphobia] just needs to improve a little bit and he will be right there with them
A flat seventh in the National Day Cup didn't do much to dispel the doubters but Moreira saw nothing more than a horse in need of a run and picked Peniaphobia over regular ride and reigning horse of the year Able Friend in what looms as the race of the season so far.
"It was just his fitness, nothing else, I'm convinced of that," Moreira said. "This problem that people are saying that he has, I didn't feel there were any signs that he is suffering with it. He only finished a length and a half behind the runner-up and he just needs to improve a little bit and he will be right there with them. Sure, it wasn't his best run but we knew he wasn't at peak fitness."
Even though Peniaphobia's sole Group One win was at 1,000m and the four-year-old was placed over the same distance in the Al Quoz Sprint in Dubai, Moreira is convinced that Sunday's trip is his best.
"Tony may think he is better at 1,000m - but I think he is a better 1,200m horse, based on his performance in the Hong Kong Sprint last year and that's the race he is being aimed at again."
Able Friend was fourth in the Premier Bowl under similar circumstances last season and Moreira tends to think the big chestnut - who suffered an early season setback and looked lacking in condition before a barrier trial last week - would again be found out fitness-wise first-up.
"He is a year older, and I think he needs a run to be back at his best - but he is so talented that he might go there and beat them all."
Moore's decision to send Able Friend around in the sprint allows Moreira to regain the ride on John Size-trained Contentment, a five-year-old on the rise stepping up to a mile in the Group Two Oriental Watch Sha Tin Trophy after an impressive display on National Day over 1,400m.
"He is a horse that I have very high expectations of," Moreira said.
Moreira heads to Moonee Valley on Saturday for his first ever ride in the Cox Plate aboard Complacent.
