Able Friend lifted the Sha Tin crowd to an adoring crescendo with a display of brilliance that can only advance his ever-growing reputation. The strapping chestnut has been imperious in his last three starts, but this afternoon’s (15 March) performance in the G1 Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup was perhaps his most impressive yet.
Trapped on the fence with the home straight diminishing at a rapid rate, Joao Moreira saw the 200m pole flash by his right eye before he was able to switch the hot favourite into clear running.
“I was just about to call my cardio specialist!” said trainer John Moore, who has seen his crack miler dominate his last three races - the G1 Stewards’ Cup, G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Mile and G2 Jockey Club Mile - by rolling trouble-free around the outside of his rivals.
The emergency services were not necessary; Able Friend simply drew a new weapon from his armoury. As Moreira extricated his mount, the Shamardal five-year-old responded with an instant burst of speed to power past the leader, the Tony Cruz-trained Beauty Flame. The Australian-bred’s acceleration was such that he had two and a quarter lengths to spare at the wire as he claimed a G1 hat-trick. The winning time was 1m 21.10s with Able Friend clocking 22.08s for the final 400m. Last year’s winner Gold-Fun, from the Richard Gibson stable, ran on to take third, a further three quarters of a length back.
“We didn't want to be on the inside taking a risk, but the way the race unfolded, I ended up being there and I had to ride him for luck,” said Moreira after winning the HK$10 million contest from 10 high-class opponents that included the Irish raider Gordon Lord Byron.
“I was locked up on the inside and it took a little while to come through. I was holding him on the hand all the way, and then suddenly the horse that was leading just moved a little bit, the gap came and he just kept on running past the leading horse. He has such a great turn-of-foot and he’s just so enjoyable to sit on top of.
“He’s just an outstanding horse, isn’t he?” continued the Brazilian. “The way he won today, he proved once again that he is one of the best around here and can be considered one of the best in the world at 1400m and 1600m.”
Able Friend’s owner, Dr Cornel Li, was delighted with the success and is looking forward to more of the same in next month’s HKG2 Chairman’s Trophy and the G1 Champions Mile in May.
“I’m still floating on cloud nine,” said Dr Li. “There are two more 1600m races coming up, so we will play it by ear and after that we will see where to go.”
Moore is looking forward to the tests ahead: “It's fantastic to have a horse that could be a world champion miler. I know he has to travel to prove himself but what he has done so far is unbelievable. We have to compete overseas to prove his worth and, as Cornel said, two runs at a mile and then we’ll see where we go.”
The Tom Hogan-trained Gordon Lord Byron ran home ninth.
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Photo 1:
Photo 1, 2, 3, 4
John Moore-trained Able Friend (No 1), ridden by Joao Moreira, wins the Queen's Silver Jubilee Cup (Group 1, 1400m), final leg of the 2014/15 Hong Kong Speed Series at Sha Tin Racecourse today. Beauty Flame (No 6) finishes second.
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Photo 2
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Photo 3
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Photo 4
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Photo 5:
Photo 5, 6, 7: Connections of Able Friend celebrate at the winners' circle after the victory.
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Photo 6
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Photo 7
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Photo 8:
Photo 8, 9, 10
Mr Michael T H Lee, a Steward of the Club, presents the Queen's Silver Jubilee Cup trophy and gold-plated dishes to Dr & Mrs Cornel Li Fook Kwan, Owner of Able Friend, winning trainer John Moore and jockey Joao Moreira.
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Photo 9
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Photo 10
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Photo 11:
Dr Simon S O Ip, Chairman of the Hong Kong Jockey Club, Stewards, CEO Mr Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges and the connections of Queen's Silver Jubilee Cup winner Able Friend, smile for the camera at the Queen's Silver Jubilee Cup trophy presentation ceremony.
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Photo 12:
Connections of Able Friend celebrate their success in the Queen��s Silver Jubilee Cup.
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