Hong Kong diary: Graham Cunningham on one of the most controversial Arcs

Heard the one about the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe which produced a blanket finish, two dead-heats, two objections, one dramatic demotion and an eventual winner who ran only because the stewards wouldn't allow him to be scratched?

John Moore was only nine when his globetrotting father George partnered Saint Crespin to pass the post level with Midnight Sun in front of an 80,000-plus crowd at Longchamp in 1959 but the Hong Kong training legend vividly recalls the aftermath of one of the most controversial Arcs in history.

Saint Crespin’s trainer Alec Head discovered his star colt had a leg problem on the Thursday before the big race but his request to withdraw, supported by owner Prince Aly Khan, was denied after a vet’s inspection.

But the real drama was still to come. At the end of a turbulent contest it took the stewards 12 minutes to announce Saint Crespin had dead-heated for first place with Midnight Sun and another 20 to demote the latter after the riders of the first two objected to each other.

Camera patrol footage which helped the stewards produce order from chaos had been introduced only a month earlier and, 60 years and seven HK training titles later, Moore’s abiding memory is of the lavish gift his dad received from a hugely colourful owner who died in a car crash just seven months after Saint Crespin’s Arc triumph.

“We lived in Paris for two years and I went to the English School,” he said. “My dad got on very well with Prince Aly Khan and I can show you some letters that we still have. I’m not sure if I was at the races on the day Saint Crespin won the Arc but I remember the present Dad got. Prince Aly sent him a huge grey Cadillac with the fins and everything – and yes, I did get to ride in it!”

Age not a factor as Beauty and Enable roll on

Moore has another strong Arc connection through his brother Gary – who drove Gold River to victory for Alec Head in 1981 – and drew on his own experiences with stable star Beauty Generation as he pondered Enable’s bid for a historic third success.

“She’s amazing,” he said. “I’ve seen her and it’s just like Beauty Generation – they’re just machines, aren’t they?

“They're just elite athletes who can keep doing it and age is not really a factor if they remain sound all the time.”

Beauty Generation (Zac Purton) makes a winning return in the Celebration Cup at Sha TinCredit: Hong Kong Jockey Club

Moore reports Beauty Generation in fine shape after he extended his winning streak to ten in Tuesday’s Celebration Cup and feels his record-breaking seven-year-old “will strip a lot fitter for that run”.

Hong Kong’s handicappers have raised him slightly to a local rating of 138 – level with the career-high mark of Moore’s previous superstar miler Able Friend – and the next chance to see him will come when he bids for a third successive success in the Oriental Watch Sha Tin Trophy on October 20.

Jury out after Aethero’s torrid trip

Moore remains hopeful that he has another Group 1 contender coming through in the shape of Aethero but the horse he dubbed a “potential superstar” could become a precocious problem child if a decision to turn him out quickly next weekend doesn’t work.

Aethero: potential superstar could become a problem childCredit: Hong Kong Jockey Club

The strapping three-year-old was sent off at 1-2 for his Class 2 debut on Tuesday but suffered a torrid trip, catching a heavy early bump and then tossing his head around noticeably as Zac Purton tried to settle him.

Finishing third behind the smart Fat Turtle was a fair effort in the circumstances and Moore feels his “work in progress” can bounce back with Joao Moreira aboard when he returns to five furlongs at Sha Tin next Saturday.

However, Aethero had a stressful experience on his first day at big school. A lengthy stewards' report concluded with the worrying footnote that he was too fractious to be scoped afterwards and it will be fascinating to see whether punters keep faith when he comes up against Ricky Yiu’s quicksilver young sprinter Voyage Warrior (with Purton in the plate) next weekend.

Inside draw a plus for Hezthewonforus

There is a strong British and Irish flavour to Sha Tin’s feature event on Sunday – the Sheung Wan Handicap at 10.45 – with four former British and Irish imports set to figure towards the head of the market.

Gold Chest (formerly Naval Intelligence for Jane Chapple-Hyam) finally came good when getting the better of ex-Jim Bolger galloper Fast Most Furious over course and distance, while King Of Hearts (known as Society Power when second in Expert Eye’s Jersey Stakes) did likewise two weeks ago but is up 5lb in a deeper contest now.

Former Beverley winner Uncle Steve will be an interesting horse having left Moore to join Douglas Whyte, especially when he returns to a mile, but Joao Moreira and John Size could hold the key here with Hezthewonforus.

This chestnut shaded Fast Most Furious after a long break here in May and remains open to a little more improvement after just eight HK starts. His recent morning trials have been strong and, having been drawn 14, 14, 11 and 12 on his last four starts, he now has an inside gate that should suit his freewheeling style perfectly.

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