Able Friend Tough to Oppose in Jockey Club Mile

Trainer John Moore saddles nine of the 29 runners for Saturday’s three feature races at Sha Tin and the barn will be represented by five of the nine starters in the G2 BOCHK Wealth Management Jockey Club Mile, a race in which it is difficult to foresee anything taking down the colors of reigning Hong Kong Horse of the Year Able Friend (Aus) (Shamardal).

In winning this event by 2 1/4 easy lengths last year, the hulking chestnut was commencing a six-race winning streak that included the G1 Longines Hong Kong Mile in his next start and concluded with the G1 Champions Mile in May. Following a well-documented flop in the G1 Queen Anne S. at Royal Ascot in June, Able Friend was first-up in the Premier Bowl H. Oct. 25 over a 1200-meter trip well short of his best and despite being asked to give the best local sprinters a ton of weight. Accordingly sent off at 9-1, the 6-year-old had the entire field to pass in the final 200 meters, but managed to pull the rabbit out of the hat to score by a half-length. Karis Teetan had the ride that day, but jockey Joao Moreira is back in the saddle Saturday, and Moore says it’s all systems go.

“He’s never been better,” said the handler. “I think he’s pretty close to peak. Judging by the way he returned from his gallop [Thursday] morning and the huge smile on Joao’s face, this horse is not far off. I expect him to win, based on that work, and then on to the Hong Kong Mile.”

Still, the connections of eight other horses will have a crack. Contentment (Aus) (Hussonet) is one of the most progressive horses currently in training in Hong Kong, with eight wins from 11 career wins and four on the bounce. After taking care of Beauty Only in the aforementioned Class 1 over the mile July 12, the 5-year-old resumed with a half-length defeat of Giant Treasure (Mizzen Mast) in the Celebration Cup H. going 1400 meters Oct. 1 and sat up on the pace in the Sha Tin Trophy before holding off the late bid of Beauty Only.

Designs On Rome (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}), last seen finishing fourth to Blazing Speed (GB) (Dylan Thomas {Ire}) in the QE II Cup in April, underwent surgery to remove chips from both front fetlocks in May. He goes first up here while prepping for a title defense in the Hong Kong Cup, and with Moreira taking the call atop the race favorite, Karis Teetan deputizes. John Moore has been pleased with the 5-year-old’s work coming into this.

“Designs On Rome looked very well, I’m really pleased,” said Moore after the five-year-old had stopped the watch at 1:22.4 (29.4, 28.6, 24.4) Thursday morning. “We all know, after arthroscopic work, you’re never going to be 100%, but the thing that he’s got in his favour is that he knows where the winning post is and he doesn’t like being beaten. That’s probably his greatest attribute. He just grinds.”