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John Moore purchased a colt by Exceed And Excel for $900,000 from Bhima Thoroughbreds.
John Moore has not ruled out training in Australia when he is forced into retirement in Hong Kong later this year, but said he would be making a play for an extension to his training license from the Hong Kong Jockey Club.
After purchasing a colt by Exceed And Excel (Danehill) for $900,000 from Bhima Thoroughbreds, Moore said that he could end up training from the Gold Coast should he be forced to retire at the end of the season.
"It could be right here at the Gold Coast, you never know, Dad was a Queenslander, I'm sure we would like to see the Moore family back up here that could be on the cards, but let's see what eventuates in Hong Kong," said Moore.
"Hong Kong is currently in a bit of turmoil with the protests going on. A lot of businesses have closed down in Hong Kong and I'm sure it will have a marked effect on the Hong Kong racing industry.
"Let's wait and see in the next few months and see if the club might give me an extension taking into account the branding the Moore family does in Hong Kong. Let's see what the future holds in Hong Kong before we make decisions about Australia.
"I would like to do another season in Hong Kong in that transition period since David Hayes is coming up and there is still one place to fill trainer wise. That'd be nice if I could get another season in and look to train back here in Australia."
Catalogued as Lot 226, the colt is out of De Groove (Dehere) making him a brother to the Frankie Lor-trained Big Party, who was last seen landing the Bauhinia Sprint Trophy (Gr 3, 1000m) and who many people rate as a potential Group 1 horse.
"She sure has been a great producer, especially to Exceed And Excel," said Moore. "She has exceeded and excelled you might say. We all know about Big Party in Hong Kong. He's really hit his straps this season, he looks a potential Group 1 horse in Hong Kong, so I had to follow it up.
"On type, he's very similar, Very, very similar, so from that point of view I couldn't see that I could bypass him. My wife went out and got the client and now we've got him in the yard. I'll kick off training him and then will see how we go.
"My wife convinced one of her clients would you believe, a mainland Chinese, to allow us to bid on him today and we were successful. I understand the underbidder was Frankie Lor who trains Big Party. The colt looks like a real runner to me."
