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Returning champ still Able says Moore ahead of Sunday's Group 2 test

17/11/2016

By David Morgan

Able Friend breezed through his final tune-up this morning ahead of an eagerly-awaited comeback in the HK$4 million G2 BOCHK Wealth Management Jockey Club Sprint (1200m) on Sunday (20 November). The 1200-metre solo spin, at around 5.45am, left trainer John Moore in buoyant mood.

“Everything’s on target for the race on Sunday,” Moore declared. “He’s drawn two, a nice gate, and he’s definitely a force to reckon with, even at 1200 metres.”

Hong Kong’s former Horse of the Year has not raced since the G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Mile last December and only returned to training in September following a long recuperation in Australia. The issue was a well-documented tendon injury low down in his off-fore. A further setback occurred upon his return to Hong Kong: a passing truck spooked the strapping gelding and failure to clear a nearby rail caused hind quarter strain.

“He passed his ‘to watch’ check this morning. I think he has more people watching him this week than are watching what Donald Trump is doing!” Moore joked.

That check came after the Shamardal chestnut had stretched his legs around Sha Tin’s all-weather circuit in a time of 1m 24.6s, striding through the final 400m in 24.7s.

“I’m happy with that. He hasn't missed a gallop since we started working him,” Moore said. “He handled everything well in his barrier trial last week, too, although I’d have liked to have seen him go to the outside and open his pipes up a little bit, but it wasn’t possible with the horse on the outside keeping him penned in tight running. But the way he got to the line that morning was very pleasing.”

Able Friend passed the post fifth in that first barrier trial in more than a year, a length and a half behind the rising star of the Hong Kong sprint circuit and a rival he will meet on Sunday, Lucky Bubbles. Moore is looking forward to seeing Hong Kong’s all-time highest rated horse cross swords with younger aspirants but knows that this weekend is only the first step back, albeit a big one.

“There’s no doubt he’ll benefit from the run after such a long lay-off but right now he’s on target for either the Hong Kong Sprint or the Hong Kong Mile on 11th December,” he said.

“He’s seven years old and you cannot expect a horse of his age to be physically perfect - he can’t be 100 percent any more. He’s not getting any younger; it’s like any athlete, over time the body changes and there are little bits of wear and tear to deal with - that’s normal. But when it comes to ability and heart, he’s lost none of that.

“He’ll overcome all that, though and he’ll be a force to reckon with, both on the weekend and in December.”

Able Friend’s nine rivals on Sunday also include past G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint winners Aerovelocity and Peniaphobia, as well as another exciting young gun in Amazing Kids.

Able Friend wins the HKG2 Premier Bowl over 1200m last season.
Photo 1:
Able Friend wins the HKG2 Premier Bowl over 1200m last season.

 

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