Able Friend Getting Serious

Able Friend (Aus) (Shamardal), who retains the mantra of world’s highest-rated turf miler on the current Longines World’s Best Racehorse Rankings, geared up for his return to action in the Oct. 25 Premier Bowl H. with a Tuesday morning barrier trial up the 1000-meter straight at Sha Tin racecourse that read like a black-type race.

Unraced since his disappointing sixth-of-eight finish behind Solow (GB) (Singspiel {Ire}) in the G1 Queen Anne S. at Royal Ascot June 16, the strapping chestnut suffered a minor setback in early September, and therefore trainer John Moore requested that Able Friend be able to jump from gate one–furthest away from the stands–in order to race over the most level ground. With Karis Teetan in the irons, the 6-year-old jumped well and was always widest on the track as former G1 Al Quoz S. winner Amber Sky (Aus) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}) and Bundle of Joy (Aus) (Magic Albert {Aus}), a respectable fifth in the 2015 Al Quoz, eyeballed each other on the front end. That duo scampered well clear of the others and finished in that order in a time of :57.46, as Dundonnell (First Defence) and MG1SW Lucky Nine (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) ran on for third and fourth, respectively (video). Able Friend raced in the latter third of the field and was never really asked for much, finishing five lengths back in fifth before galloping out strongly past the wire.

“I’m delighted with the trial and Karis said it was a very good trial, too. He had a good blow but that’s to be expected – this is the start of his prep,” said trainer John Moore.

Teetan, who has a record of two wins from three starts aboard Hong Kong’s Horse of the Year, has the call in the Premier Bowl H., as regular rider Joao Moreira has a previous commitment to Peniaphobia (Ire) (Dandy Man {Ire}).

Able Friend will carry top weight of 133 pounds in the Premier Bowl, giving weight to many of Hong Kong’s top sprinters, including reigning G1 Longines Hong Kong Sprint hero Aerovelocity (NZ) (Pins {Aus}), who will tote just 124 pounds. The latter, who defeated Able Friend into fourth in last year’s Premier Bowl, had a trial of his own Tuesday morning. Assigned stall four going 1200 meters over the dirt track, Aerovelocity was never off the bridle in ‘winning’ by 3 3/4 lengths in a slick time of 1:08.94 (video). Gun Pit (Aus) (Dubawi {Ire}), widely regarded as Hong Kong’s top dirt horse, ran on well for fourth and has been given an entry for the G1 Champions Cup (1800m) at Chukyo, Japan, Dec. 6.

Also possible for the Premier Bowl: Gold-Fun (Ire) (Le Vie dei Colori {GB}), 127 pounds; Peniaphobia, 122; and Not Listenin’tome (Aus) (Dylan Thomas {Ire}), 118.