Another For Oratorio. Military Attack is on the warpath
In another big win for new South African stallion Oratorio, the John Moore-trained Military Attack, who recently won the Gold Cup, kept up his good form to win the Gr3 Premier Plate (Handicap) over 1800m at Sha Tin Racecourse on Sunday.
The former Coolmore stallion took up residence at Avontuur Stud near Cape Town two months ago and is grabbing the headlines every week.
Breaking well from the widest gate 13, the five-year-old Military Attack was able to take a soft lead with Zac Purton onboard.
He gradually increased the tempo approaching the home stretch and accelerated strongly to beat Aomen by half a length. Let Me Handle It was a further three-quarters of a length back in third.
Having won the Gr1 Citibank Hong Kong Gold Cup (2000m) exactly a month ago, Military Attack continued to show his class in a strong field of 13, completing the Premier Plate in a time of 1m49.98s.
Moore was delighted with the classy performance of his stable star and said the Gold Cup hero will now head for the Gr1 Audemars Piguet QEII Cup to be held on 28 April.
“Carrying the top weight he really won a crack at the QEII Cup. He dictated the pace and stayed on well. He’s a Group One winner and today he ran a good race,” Moore said.
Winning jockey Purton sealed a double for the meeting by taking the Class 3 1600m CUHK Alumni Cup (Handicap) with Why Not but he was unable to stop the domination of 12-time Hong Kong Champion Jockey Douglas Whyte who landed a four-timer with Hypersonic, Good Friends Magic, Sea Dragon and Gurus Dream to extend his lead in the Jockeys’ Championship.
An excited Pippa Mickleburgh, General Manager of Avontuur Stud who now stand the former Coolmore star Oratorio, said the win was great news. She added that she was looking forward to Saturday’s Gr1 Wilgerbosdrift SA Fillies Classic where the undefeated Orator’s Daughter would take on Fillies Guineas winner, Cherry On The Top.
