By Bren O'Brien
Boom 2-year-old Aethero (Sebring) confirmed his reputation as one of Hong Kong's most exciting horses, maintaining his unbeaten record with an effortless win at Sha Tin on Sunday.
Aethero, the half-brother to The Everest-bound 3-year-old Classique Legend (Not A Single Doubt), backed up his excellent win on debut last month with an even easier victory this time around, winning the Liberator Plate by 3.25l eased down.
Jockey Zac Purton described the 2-year-old as maybe one of the best horses he had ridden, while trainer John Moore said post-race that his high opinion of the horse has been justified.
"We all know and I always keep saying that he is seriously talented. I'm so happy he's in the yard, and we've got a real top flighter in the making for next season," Moore said.
And Moore didn’t baulk at Purton's suggestions as to the talent of Aethero so early in his career.
"I'm so happy he's in the yard, and we've got a real top flighter in the making for next season." - Trainer John Moore
"That's what Zac said. Usually Zac doesn't give those accolades away very easily and he said that, I hope he is right," Moore said.
"He won facile today, that was a working gallop for him. I thought that may be the case. He's a serious horse and I'm pleased to have him in the yard."
George Moore picked up Aethero for $575,000 at last year's Easter Sale from Tyreel Stud, uttering the words 'just buy him' as soon as he came out of the box for inspection.
Aethero as a yearling
Another buyer with strong Hong Kong connections, Carmel Size, paid $400,000 for his older half-brother at the Classic Sale a year earlier and now has one of the most promising sprinters in Australia after Classique Legend's win in the G2 Arrowfield Sprint during The Championships.
He too was set to go to Hong Kong, but owner Boniface Ho was convinced to leave him with Les Bridge in Australia after he and racing manager Size purchased the GPI Racing Everest Slot.
Thanks for the patience
It was a marquee day for John Moore, who had his returning 3-year-old Thanks Forever (Duporth), upset the previously unbeaten Voyage Warrior (Declaration of War {USA}) in the Werther Hcp over 1000m.
Thanks Forever, a $170,000 buy for George Moore from of the 2017 Magic Millions Gold Coast Sale out of the stakes-placed mare Cinecitta (Exceed and Excel), was having his first start back from a series of setbacks.
Thanks Forever as a yearling
"It was (a great win) because he'd been off the scene for the past 12 months with a tibia and a bleed. So to see him do that," John Moore said.
"I thought he'd run second or third to Ricky's Voyage Warrior, but when I saw him walk around the enclosure, he looked very forward in condition. To do what he did, he is seriously talented."
"To do what he did, he is seriously talented." - John Moore
Purton rode Thanks Forever to perfection, kicking through against the rail and not allowing Voyage Warrior to dominate the pace. He then kicked war impressively to win by 3.25l.
"It was a plan, I told him to jump and be very positive," Moore said. "He did knuckle when he jumped, and I said please don’t fall over, but once he got into his stride, he showed good speed with the winkers, so I've got another decent horse on my hands.
More glory for Purton
Purton's brilliant day continued with Exultant's (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) victory in the season's final Group 1, the Champions and Chater Cup.
Exultant, trained by Tony Cruz, added the 2400m race to his wins in the Hong Kong Gold Cup and Hong Kong Vase earlier this season to confirm his reputation as Hong Kong's premier stayer.
Purton, who won the Sin-1 Kranji Mile in Singapore on Saturday, has won six of the 12 Group 1 races run in Hong Kong this season. Purton finished the meeting with six winners.
