Racing Post Trophy winner Rivet sold to race in Hong Kong

Last year's Racing Post Trophy winner Rivet, unplaced in the Prix du Jockey Club and the St James's Palace Stakes since finishing third to Brametot in the French 2,000 Guineas, is to continue his career in Hong Kong.

The son of Fastnet Rock has been bought privately by George Moore and is to join his father John, who is Hong Kong's longest-serving and winningmost trainer and has handled many of Hong Kong's biggest earners, including Able Friend, Designs On Rome, Military Attack, Werther and Xtension.

Moore also trains Rivet's brother Booming Delight, who won for Rivet's former trainer William Haggas as Out And About last year and is now a rising star.

Rivet is the second classy three-year-old to leave Haggas for Hong Kong in a matter of weeks, following the departure of Lockheed, who topped last month's Goffs London Sale at Kensington Palace at £900,000.

Haggas said on Tuesday: "Rivet left us this morning to join John Moore and is a very attractive horse for that market. His brother Booming Delight has won four races there this year, and this horse is better. We were offered a nice sum and the owners accepted it.

"He's a lovely horse, but you have to trade to stay in business and it was a good deal for the owners."

The trainer added: "Rivet was a good horse for us and won the Champagne Stakes as well as the Racing Post Trophy last year. His third in the French Guineas was another good effort. And with hindsight we shouldn't have run him at Royal Ascot in the St James's Palace.

"With a horse like that you really only want to be running in Group 1 races and it's hard finding the right races. As it turned out, last weekend's Prix Jean Prat might have been ideal, but he had been sold by then.

"I see no reason why he won't do very well in Hong Kong."