Able Friend Explodes to Victory at Sha Tin
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Imperious in his previous three starts, Able Friend was even more impressive March 15 in winning the first international edition of Queen's Silver Jubilee Cup (HK-I) at Sha Tin.
Hemmed in on the fence with the home straight diminishing at a rapid rate, jockey Joao Moreira saw the 200-meter pole flash by his right eye before he was able to switch the hot favorite to running room.
Guided clear, the 5-year-old Shamardal gelding responded with an instant burst of speed to power past front-runner Beauty Flame, who hung on for second.
The winner's acceleration was such that he had 2 1/4 lengths to spare at the wire as for a third group I win.
"I was just about to call my cardio specialist," said trainer John Moore, who has seen his crack miler dominate in a trio of prior starts—the Stewards' Cup (HK-I) Jan 25, Longines Hong Kong Mile (HK-I) Dec. 14, and Jockey Club Mile, a local group II event Nov. 23—by rolling trouble-free around the outside of his rivals.
The winning time in the 1,400-meter (about seven-furlong) Queen's Silver Jubilee Cup was 1:21.10, with Able Friend clocking :22.08 for the final 400 meters. Last year's winner Gold-Fun ran on to take third, another three-quarters of a length back.
"We didn't want to be on the inside taking a risk, but the way the race unfolded, I ended up being there and I had to ride him for luck," Moreira said after winning the HK$10 million (US$1,287,593) race from 10 high-class opponents, including the Irish-based multiple group I winner Gordon Lord Byron, who finished ninth. "I was locked up on the inside and it took a little while to come through. I was holding him on the hand all the way, and then suddenly the horse that was leading just moved a little bit, the gap came, and he just kept on running past the leading horse. He has such a great turn of foot and he's just so enjoyable to sit on top of.
"The way he won today, he proved once again that he is one of the best around here and can be considered one of the best in the world at 1,400 meters and 1,600 meters (about one mile)."
Able Friend's owner, Dr. Cornel Li, was delighted with the success and is looking forward to more of the same in next month's Chairman's Trophy, a local group II race, and the Champions Mile (HK-I) May 3, both at Sha Tin.
"I'm still floating on cloud nine," Li said. "There are two more 1,600-meter races coming up, so we will play it by ear and after that we will see where to go."
Moore is looking forward to the tests ahead for his brilliant runner.
"It's fantastic to have a horse that could be a world champion miler," Moore said. "I know he has to travel to prove himself, but what he has done so far is unbelievable. We have to compete overseas to prove his worth and, as Cornel said, two runs at a mile and then we'll see where we go."
Able Friend, who has a 10-4-1 record from 16 career starts, was bred in Australia by Ramsey Pastoral Co. Ltd. His dam is Volksraad's daughter Ponte Piccolo, a stakes winner in Australia who was group III-placed and is a half sister to South African group I winner Global News.