Hong Kong's Chairman's Trophy to Able Friend
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Able Friend was expected to brush aside his seven rivals April 7 in the Chairman's Trophy, a local group II race, at Hong Kong's Sha Tin Racecourse, and he did not disappoint, albeit not at his impressive best.
"I think he ran a little bit under what he can produce but still he was just too good. Once again he proved that he is the best horse in town," said Joao Moreira after he had guided the world's top-ranked turf miler to a 1 1/4-length victory in a time of 1:33.76 for the 1,600 meters (about one mile).
The John Moore-trained chestnut, a triple group I winner this season and five-time winner at the highest level, secured the Chairman's Trophy for the second year in succession. The Tony Cruz-trained Beauty Flame, runner-up to the favorite in the Queen's Silver Jubilee Cup and Stewards' Cup, both group I, in his last two races, set the tempo under Douglas Whyte as Moreira settled Able Friend a handy fourth.
"He put himself in a perfect position and the race panned out for us," said the Brazilian rider. "He got a clear run in the straight and I just had to help him out to get up to top speed, and he just got there."
Able Friend moved into contention at the top of the stretch, but Moreira had to shake him up and get busy about 250 meters out. The 6-year-old gelded son of Shamardal needed to work a little harder than has become customary to put a seal on the contest, but was still eased down three or four strides from the line. Beauty Flame hung on for second as the winner's strong-closing stablemate Rewarding Hero took third, a further short head back, and fellow Moore trainee Dan Excel was another neck away in fourth.
"I'm looking ahead from what he has done today," said Moreira. "I was happy with that but obviously he wasn't at his very best there, but I'm still delighted with his performance."
Owner Dr. Cornel Li, whose Able One took this race in 2010 en route to a second Champions Mile victory, told reporters afterwards that any decision regarding overseas race plans will be made after this year's May 3 Champions Mile. Royal Ascot's Queen Anne Stakes (Eng-I) has been mooted, while the Yasuda Kinen (Jpn-I) and the Singapore Airlines International Cup (HK-I) are options. Moreira is also taking things one step at a time.
"I think the connections did the right thing by keeping him here to go for the Champions Mile in a few weeks' time and I think we can work it out and make sure he is at the top of his game for that. He won the international race in December and I think he can do it again next month," Moreira said.
The win was the fifth for Moore in the past 10 renewals, but the trainer was not on hand to watch the success as he is currently in Australia for the Inglis Easter yearling sale.
A US$570,020 purchase by George Moore Bloodstock from the 2011 Easter sale, Able Friend has won 11 of 17 starts, with five placings, and earned the equivalent of nearly US$6 million.