Inspiration Snares HK Group 3

Top class Australian bred sprinter Inspiration returned to peak form to lead home an Aussie bred and John Moore trained quinella in the Sha Tin Premier Bowl HK Gr 3 in Hong Kong on Sunday, beating his stablemate One World by the best part of length.

Winner of the Group One HK International Sprint last year, Inspiration indicated he would be a force to be reckoned with again this year when he improved sharply at his second run back this season.

To offset his top weight of 133 pounds in the 1200 metre sprint, John Moore gave the ride to star apprentice Derek Leung, whose seven pound claim proved invaluable.

Leung allowed Inspiration to settle worse than midfield on the fence and when he worked between horses into the clear, the son of Flying Spur finished full of running to score a stylish win over his fast finishing rival One World who came from near last.

“These apprentices are worth their weight in gold and Derek Leung rode the horse very well,” Moore said.

“He has good hands and he got him settled and used the turn of foot the horse can always produce. Inspiration might not be the best sprinter in the world but he has proven that he is world class. Give him a good ride from a good gate and he’s capable of anything and he has proven this time and again.”

A $420,000 purchase from the Arrowfield draft at the 2005 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, Inspiration has now won nine of 29 starts, placing a further eight times.

Inspiration is a three-quarter brother to stakes-winners Lucky Unicorn and Provence (both by Redoute’s Choice) being from the very smart producer La Bamba, a half-sister by Last Tycoon (IRE) to Group One winners Festal and Masked Party.

Inspiration made it a winning double for Flying Spur, who tasted success earlier in the program with promising up and comer Taverner.

Source: Tara Madgwick, Breednet