Moonlight Cloud’s story has taken on a new dimension after owner George Strawbridge introduced the prospect of the Hong Kong Mile favourite remaining in training as a six-year-old.
Trackside at Sha Tin to watch the Freddy Head-trained mare work on the all-weather training track ahead of Sunday’s race, Strawbridge hinted at the possibility the champion mare may race on next year.
“Freddy has been very careful with her, and feels she is still getting better and that there’s a lot more there, so I wouldn’t rule anything in or out,” Strawbridge said.
“There are a lot of people on the other side of the river waiting to find out.”
The 77-year-old exuded confidence that Moonlight Cloud would preserve her unbeaten record in 2013, recalling her performance in the Prix de la Foret at Longchamp as “extraordinary”.
“What happened that day changed the definition of the English word ‘wow’ to ‘woooow’,” he said.
“It was extraordinary acceleration to see her zoom past a horse of Dawn Approach’s stature.
“I had started getting very nervous seeing her so far back, and Thierry Jarnet was teasing Freddy when he said he got there too soon.
“This filly is the best horse I have owned, without question. To win two Group Ones within a week and set record times in each, well that’s almost impossible to imagine.
“She’s settled in well and I can see she’s happy. She knows whether to go or not, and has been saving herself because she’s a very clever mare.
“Sky Lantern is obviously the one to beat. She’s a champion, too, but being a three-year-old makes things tougher for her.”
