By Alan Carasso
The battle for 2014/2015 Hong Kong Horse of the Year came down to a photo finish between Able Friend (Aus) (Shamardal), who dominated the local mile division with victories in the G1 Longines Hong Kong Mile and G1 Champions Mile; and Aerovelocity (NZ) (Pins {Aus}), who not only returned the G1 Longines Hong Kong Sprint to the host jurisdiction, but also added Group 1s on international soil in the Takamatsunomiya Kinen in Japan in late March and the KrisFlyer International Sprint in Singapore in May. At the end of the day, it was Able Friend, Hong Kong's version of 'Big Red' who took down the top honors, with both horses set to fly the flag for Hong Kong in the 2015/2016 season, which kicks off in early September.
Trained by John Moore, who has locked up a seventh premiership, and ridden in seven of his eight starts by champion and most popular jockey Joao Moreira, Able Friend, an A$550,000 Inglis Easter yearling, dropped his return to the races in a rare meeting with Aerovelocity, but would not taste defeat again in Hong Kong, posting six straight tallies and additional top-level successes in the Stewards' Cup and the 1400-meter Queen's Silver Jubilee Cup. Able Friend failed to reproduce his best form in the G1 Queen Anne S. at Royal Ascot last month, prompting owner Dr. Cornel Li to remark that he didn't expect to win any awards, but voters and fans alike were able to see past that disappointment. In addition to Horse of the Year, Able Friend was also named champion miler and most popular horse.
It was a more ambitious campaign for Aerovelocity, who became the first Hong Kong runner to win Group 1 races in three countries to take down champion sprinter honors. With the lack of a suitable race in Dubai, the 6-year-old was shipped across to Chukyo for the Takamatsunomiya Kinen and overcame ground easier than he likes for a half-length success. In his final start of the season, the Paul O'Sullivan trainee ventured to Singapore for the KrisFlyer and provided Hong Kong with a third straight running of that race, defeating two-time defending champion Lucky Nine (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) into third as the 3-5 favorite.
Designs on Rome (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) gave the John Moore stable a second winner on the evening, as the 5-year-old was named champion middle-distance horse. Partnered in all but one of his starts this season by Moreira, the bay put it all together on international races day, defeating one-time barnmate Military Attack (Ire) (Oratorio {Ire}) by a short head in the G1 Longines Hong Kong Cup before besting Helene Super Star (War Front) in the G1 Hong Kong Gold Cup two starts later. The latter, raced in Europe as Lines of Battle, was crowned champion stayer on the strength of his victory in the G1 Champions and Chater Cup May 31.
In other categories, Thewizardofoz (Aus) (Redoute's Choice {Aus}) was named champion griffin (new horse) with a trio of facile victories from as many starts and Contentment (Aus) (Hussonet) won five of eight starts to go from a rating of 52 to a current 95 and was named most improved horse.
Two legends of the Hong Kong turf who were recently retired, Ambitious Dragon (NZ) (Pins {Aus}) and California Memory (Highest Honor {Fr}), were recognized with lifetime achievement awards.
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