G1 Queen Anne S. contender Able Friend (Aus) (Shamardal) is adjusting well to his settings in Newmarket after traveling from trainer John Moore's base in Hong Kong over the weekend. The 5-year-old, a four-time Group 1 winner in his native country since December and currently the world's highest-rated horse on the Longines rankings, is being stabled with trainer Michael Bell.
Moore, who will join his stable star in England June 12, said, “Able Friend traveled unbelievably well; he ate and drank the whole way on the plane. We weighed him and he only lost 10 pounds, so for a horse that is 1280 pounds, that's nothing. When he got to England, Rossdales' vet, Mike Shepherd, and our vet, Paul Robinson, were very happy with what they were seeing. The minute they put him into his stall he just went and drank a lot of water.”
Able Friend stretched his legs on the Newmarket heath Monday, and Moore said he will work his charge over the Polytrack.
“He'll be out on the Polytrack close to Michael's yard,” he said. “It's a flat gallop and that's what we want. We'll keep it as flat as we can.”
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.