We on the SCMP racing desk always endeavour to be first on the scene with any news emanating from the wonderful world of Hong Kong racing – and wherever news is breaking, we want to be there, no matter what; from Santa Anita to Inner Mongolia and everywhere in between.
So in that grand tradition we found ourselves nestled behind some pot plants, straining to overhear what was being said at the most important brunch in Hong Kong’s long and storied history of horse racing.
We were, in camouflage, listening and watching when trainer John Moore and his son George took Able Friend’s owner Dr Cornel Li Fook-kwan and wife Tisa out for brunch in Jimmy’s Kitchen, Central, on Monday.
This is our best recollection of what happened – and for those of you that say, “What complete and utter fabricated nonsense!” – I say to you, as sarcastically as possible, “Well, duh. Of course it is. This is Happy Lucky Dragon Win, after all.”
But we also offer this: in life, but particularly Hong Kong racing, truth is often far stranger than fiction.
It's 11am and Dr Li and his wife are already seated at a corner table in a sparsely populated restaurant. John Moore sits down, dressed in his trademark tailored navy blue safari suit, places his hat on the table and immediately begins
JOHN MOORE (JM): Right, good morning Dr Li, Tisa. So it looks as though we are all sorted then – we are off to Dubai, George already read about it in the Sydney newspapers.
GEORGE MOORE (GM): (sitting down, passes a newspaper clipping across table)
DR CORNEL LI (CL): Whoa, hang on a moment boys. You should both know by now not to believe what you read in the racing papers. I’ve been doing some thinking.
JM: (eyes roll)
CL: Why do we need to take Able Friend anywhere? Surely it is good enough just to win every race in a canter here? Besides … (starts speaking in a strangely robotic, monotone voice) … it has also become apparent that more and more overseas horse connections, media and fans agree that the Group One racing in Hong Kong is now of strong world-class quality. Many of them told me that they would like to see more of their top-tier runners challenge for the Group One events in Hong Kong.
JM: Are you feeling OK Dr Li? You seem a little … hypnotised or something. Have you been reading Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges' blog again, Cornel? I already warned you about that. What are you doing reading that again?
CL: It’s the increased prizemoney and various top-class events, they have incentivised me to keep Able Friend in Hong Kong.
JM: (clearly bewildered, snapping fingers around Dr Li's head) Incentivised? Who even says that?! Are you sure you are feeling yourself? What about taking on the world? What about the money on offer?
CL: I sure am – give me one good reason why we should go to the Dubai Turf?
JM: I’ll give you three and a half million reasons – straight cash, US-style – that’s why. That’s first prize in the race and Able Friend will be winning it.
CL: It's always about the prize money with you, isn't it? Money isn’t everything, John.
JM: Look, it is when you are trying to feed this monster. Do you have any idea how much a 1,300-pound horse eats everyday? Tell him, George.
GM: A lot.
JM: He is eating us out of house and home, he has won more than HK$36 million, and we are barely breaking even. He isn't a normal horse Cornel, he is a monster!
CL: Cry me a river John. I’m the one who paid A$550,000 for him as a yearling. Besides, everyone is telling me I shouldn’t go to Dubai – they say it flattens horses, and that they don’t train on afterwards. I won’t risk my star’s future.
GM: Pffft! Really, you believe that baloney? It’s a myth, didn’t you read Alan Aitken’s excellent On The Rails column in the world class South China Morning Post last week?
JM: What about Viva Pataca? Xtension? They raced on and won Group Ones after coming back?
CL: I see your Viva Pataca and Xtension and raise you Sterling City. He might have won the Golden Shaheen but he is racing like he left a leg behind in Dubai!
JM: Anyway, who are these people that are telling you this stuff?
CL: Everyone – even that nice waiter over there told me, he said I should stay here because he would like to see more local and overseas elite runners set Hong Kong as their main target and showcase their best in the coming months.
JM: You just read that off some paper! Anyway, which waiter?
CL: That nice man with the moustache over there, with the high hemline and German accent. He seemed to know a lot about racing.
JM: Waiter! M’goy! (motions for waiter to come over) How are you?
WAITER: (nervous) Nearly fine, how may I help you?
JM: (taken aback and a little suspicious) You look strangely familiar. Anyway, why don’t you think Able Friend should race in Dubai?
WAITER: In a way, I think the Dubai Turf, formerly the Dubai Duty Free, is run over 1,800m and Able Friend who is now the highest rated miler in the world in training may find the 1,800m a stretch of his stamina and not being his best distance as evidenced in last year’s Hong Kong Classic Cup when he was outstayed by Designs On Rome over the 1,800m distance (at this moment, what is clearly a fake moustache falls from the waiter’s upper lip)
JM: Hey, I knew it! Is that you EB?
WAITER: (scurries away)
JM: (Turns attention to Mrs Li, clasping her hands across table, pleadingly) I know who really makes the decisions Tisa (winks). Now, I know you like shopping, let me tell you – Dubai has some of the best malls in the world. Show her the brochures George.
GM: (passing across table again) Emirates Mall has an indoor ski-slope …
CL: (interrupts) Why would we want to go skiing in a shopping mall? I’m an old man. Look, how about we compromise – do you have top hats and tails boys?
JM: Fine, Royal Ascot it is. I’m hungry, where’s that waiter gone?
