Super Saturday at Sha Tin

ABLE FRIEND HARD TO OPPOSE IN JC 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.”

REMATCH IN THE JOCKEY CLUB CUP

The versatile Blazing Speed (GB) (Dylan Thomas {Ire}), a Group 1 winner at eight, 10 and 12 furlongs, and Military Attack (Ire) (Oratorio {Ire}) were separated by a head in last year’s G2 Longines Jockey Club Cup and the two familiar foes are set to square off yet again 12 months later in the course-and-distance prep for the G1 Longines Hong Kong Cup 22 days down the road.

Winner of the 2014 G1 Champions Mile, the 6-year-old belied odds of 14-1 for an impressive two-length defeat of the Hong Kong Cup-bound Staphanos (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) in the G1 Audemars Piguet Queen Elizabeth II Cup last April. Fourth, but beaten just a neck by Helene Super Star (War Front), in defense of his title in the G1 Champions and Chater Cup over the metric mile and a half the following month, Blazing Speed finished well to be sixth behind Contentment (Aus) (Hussonet) in the 1600-meter Sha Tin Trophy H. Oct. 25.

Military Attack followed his runner-up effort in this last year with another similar result behind Designs On Rome (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) in the Hong Kong Vase, but was no better than seventh in the QE II Cup. Second to Dan Excel (Shamardal) in defense of his title in the G1 SIA Cup at Kranji in May, the bay gave an excellent account of himself in the Sha Tin Trophy, finishing third to Contentment and Beauty Only (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}).

The latter dropped a neck decision to the progressive Contentment in a Class 1 over a mile July 12, but overcame a tough trip with a nose success in a 1400-meter test Sept. 13. The former Italian runner got far back in the Sha Tin Trophy, but kicked in nicely in the final eighth of a mile to finish within 3/4 of a length for the win. Connections have elected to stretch out to this 2000-meter trip to sidestep a clash with Able Friend (Aus) (Shamardal) and company in the G2 Jockey Club Mile.

SOUMILLON IN FOR SOME ‘FUN’

Top French jockey Christophe Soumillion jets in from France to take the call for trainer Richard Gibson aboard Gold-Fun (Ire) (Le Vie Dei Colori {GB}), who looms a lukewarm selection in the G2 BOCHK Wealth Management Jockey Club Sprint at Sha Tin.

After defeats at the hooves of Able Friend in the Hong Kong Mile and G1 Stewards’ Cup, Gibson turned the flashy chestnut back to 1200 meters, and, with Soumillon in the irons, he registered a 7-1 upset of 2014 Hong Kong Sprint winner Aerovelocity (NZ) (Pins {Aus}) and Lucky Nine (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) in the Chairman’s Sprint Prize Feb. 15. Runner-up to stable companion Dundonnell (First Defence) in the Sprint Cup Apr. 26, he returned to action in the Premier Bowl, but had the misfortune of running into old foe Able Friend and dropped a half-length decision.

Super Jockey (NZ) (Sandtrap) made the most of an invitation to the G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen and ran a bang-up second to Secret Circle (Eddington). Off six months thereafter, the Kiwi-bred was no better than a 60-1 shot in the National Day Cup H. Oct. 1 and ran exceptionally well to be two lengths’ second to Not Listenin’tome (Aus) (Dylan Thomas {Ire}). He should thrive over this added distance. The latter disappointed somewhat when only sixth to Able Friend in the Premier Bowl, but was caught off the track and gave way in the final 100 meters.

Peniaphobia (Ire) (Dandy Man {Ire}) announced his arrival really and truly with a half-length tally in this event last year and went on to be a good second in the Hong Kong Sprint. Later runner-up in the G1 Al Quoz Sprint in Dubai in March, he was seventh in the National Day Cup and exits a third in the Premier Bowl.

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