Able Friend Worth the Weight?

When last seen on a racecourse, Able Friend (Aus) (Shamardal) was a shadow of himself as he finished a well-beaten sixth behind Solow (Ire) (Singspiel {Ire}) in what became an all-smoke-no-fire matchup in the G1 Queen Anne S. at Royal Ascot in mid-June. The massive chestnut gets back to work Sunday in the Premier Bowl H., but with a title defense in the G1 Longines Hong Kong Mile Dec. 13 the major near-term objective, the question becomes just what to expect from the world’s current top-rated turf miler.

The 6-year-old, who will be partnered by Mauritian Karis Teetan, raced first-up in last year’s Premier Bowl and looked a winner in the stretch, but his rally stalled and he finished a close fourth to Aerovelocity (NZ) (Pins {Aus}), whom he spotted 11 pounds. For the next six months and six starts, he was untouchable, with four imperious Group 1 wins, bookended by the Hong Kong Mile in December and Champions Mile in May. He’ll give Aerovelocity nine pounds this time around, but trainer John Moore isn’t willing to concede defeat.

“Able Friend was well underdone when he ran fourth last season and I can assure everyone that we have a lot fitter horse this season,” said Moore. “As I’ve already said, sprinters beware! Champions can sprint well fresh, we know that. If he won it wouldn’t be a surprise.”

Aerovelocity runs for the first time since his decisive victory in the G1 KrisFlyer International Sprint in Singapore in May, but his trainer is approaching this comeback with some trepidation.

“He might just be older and complacent, I don’t know,” Paul O’Sullivan suggested, “but I expect him to take a lot of benefit from the run. I don’t think he’s as far forward as he was last year. He hasn’t taken off and thrived yet.”

Not Listenin’tome (Aus) (Dylan Thomas {Ire}), stablemate of Able Friend and in receipt of 15 pounds from Hong Kong’s Horse of the Year, is the now horse. A Group 3 winner and twice Group 1 placed in Australia, the 5-year-old could not have been more impressive in landing the National Day Cup H. up the 1000-meter straight Oct. 1.

Leading rider Joao Moreira will be atop Able Friend for the rest of the year, but he has the call for trainer Tony Cruz on Peniaphobia (Ire) (Dandy Man {Ire}) Sunday. The 4-year-old, runner-up in last year’s Hong Kong Sprint and in the Al Quoz Sprint, exits a seventh in the National Day Cup. Click for the HKJC.com form.