Trainer John Moore predicts big things next season for Exceed And Excel colt People's Knight following his win at Sha Tin on Sunday.
People's Knight went back-to-back with another griffin win, defeating North American-bred three-year-old Classic Emperor (Medaglia d'Oro) by a neck however his trainer was more than satisfied.
"He only won by a neck, but there were a few factors against him," Moore told the South China Morning Post.
Douglas Whyte was allowed to set a pedestrian pace in the lead aboard Classic Emperor, turning the 1400m contest into a sprint home.
"With the way the race was run, my horse was never going to win by a big margin, but he has done it without Gerald (Mosse) having to pull the whip." Moore said.
Physical maturity in the off season will see a stronger People's Knight return to competition according to Moore.
"He has still got to grow, he is going to put on 30 or 40 pounds in the next six months and then you'll have a Class One horse - he'll go to Class One for sure."
People's Knight (2 c Allegra, by Dehere) cost $1 million at the 2014 Inglis Australian Easter yearling sale from the draft of Kia Ora Stud.
The fourth foal of his winning dam, People's Knight is a brother to the dual Listed winner Eximius and is from the same family as North American champions Gallant Fox and Fighting Fox.
Allegra had a filly by Exceed And Excel in 2014 and was covered by Mossman last spring.
Exceed And Excel is advertised at $110,000 incl GST at Darley Kelvinside in 2015.
