Moore accepts ex-HK sprinter for Oz career

Trainer Gary Moore believes there is a genuine Australian future for imported sprinter Accepted.

Accepted will continue his second coming as a racehorse at Randwick this weekend, almost a year after his career appeared at an end in Hong Kong.

The six-year-old headed into retirement in Australia earlier this year but Rosehill trainer Gary Moore brought him back into the racing fold after his owners revised their decision.

Accepted, who raced in Ireland and England before relocating to Hong Kong in early 2015, was based at Bob and Wendy Lapointe’s Muskoka Farm in Gunderman, NSW, when Moore was approached.

“I train for Bob and Wendy and they asked if I would have a go with him,” Moore said.

“He’s been in the stable for two or three months now and he impressed me greatly from day one.”

Moore gave him one barrier trial earlier this month before giving Accepted his first start last Saturday week when he finished seventh of 13 in a Benchmark 80 Handicap (1000m) with Blake Shinn aboard.

Accepted carried the top weight of 63kg that afternoon and Moore explained he only picked the race so an owner in Hong Kong could watch the horse on television.

Despite being slowly away and then blocked for a run near the 200m, Accepted finished strongly to cross 1-1/2 lengths behind winner Grand Condor.

“His first run delighted me, he came from well back and finished well after he couldn’t get clear running,” Moore said.

Accepted bounced back well from the run and tackles the same trip in a Benchmark 86 Handicap on Saturday.

Irish apprentice Lee Magorrian replaces Shinn so Moore can reduce Accepted’s impost by 3kg to 57kg.

Moore was flexible concerning his future plans for Accepted, whose three wins in 16 starts include the Listed Tipperary Stakes.

“Let’s see how he runs on Saturday. I think he’s up to winning a Listed race like he did in Ireland before he was exported to Hong Kong.”