Able Friend is one day from what could be the defining race of his career. But despite the pressures associated with contesting a Group 1 race at one of the world’s most competitive and elite race meetings, there is not a hint of tension – not from the horse and not from the men charged with his preparation.
Perhaps his trainer, John Moore, and his attendant staff are simply adept at masking any such nerves, so experienced are they in the big race crucible. As for Able Friend, the horse with Hong Kong’s hopes resting expectantly on his powerful frame is in his element, enjoying the rural life, munching fresh grass with relish, strolling country lanes to the accompaniment of birdsong and striding out with a liberated vigour across the wide expanses of Newmarket Heath.
This morning, Monday, 15 June, all of that was in evidence as Able Friend had his final canter ahead of Tuesday’s Queen Anne Stakes, the showcase mile race for older horses at the world renowned Royal Ascot meeting. When the gates burst open a tad after 2.30pm tomorrow, he will not be lacking in groundwork.
“It’s all been plain sailing right up till now and I’m very happy with the horse with one day to go,” said Moore, as Able Friend was given a deserved post-work massage to keep him loose and relaxed.
The trainer is clearly excited at the prospect of taking on Europe’s best milers in their own back yard. He appreciates the challenge Hong Kong’s star galloper faces but he is not lacking in confidence.
“There are four other Group 1 winners in the race, they’re very good horses. We’re taking on Europe’s best but we’re not coming all this way just to say we’ve had a runner at Royal Ascot. We’ve come to win and we’re going to give it our best shot,” he said.
“There are always question marks, the straight mile, the undulations, but he has trialled in a straight line in Hong Kong before, down the 1,000 metres, so I’m not worried about it. I’m more worried about just getting the right position. He’s drawn a good gate in seven of eight and hopefully they’ll go to the centre of the track.”
Joao Moreira, Able Friend’s partner and Hong Kong’s runaway Premiership leader, landed at Heathrow Airport just as Able Friend made his way to the trotting ring this morning. Four laps of that circuit under Thomas Yeung preceded a couple of laps on the Racecourse Side round gallop, as usual. The Shamardal five-year-old strode well behind his lead horse, a new grey companion as his usual partner, My Strategy, had placed third in a Class Four mile handicap at Doncaster yesterday.
“It’ll be open instructions for Joao,” said Moore. “He’ll jump first, he’ll be straight there, and Joao will just give him a tug, let the field assemble, get the cover, and I don’t see any traffic problems from seven. He’ll find something to follow from gate seven.
“I want something to go forward with a nice bunch behind and Able Friend just sitting back there tracking. That would be the perfect scenario – where he just gets a nice sit, they run in a bunch and come down the middle like last year. He can just cruise along and we know that he can come off a slow pace, he goes through his gears quickly, so the speed doesn’t worry me one little bit.”
Owner Dr Cornel Li has seen his horse win six races in a row this season, including four Group 1 contests, and he will be at Ascot to witness what he is hoping will be a seventh, and a third for a Hong Kong-trained runner at the Royal meeting after Cape Of Good Hope (2005) and Little Bridge (2012).
“Cornel arrived on Thursday. He has a home outside London and he’s here with his family. They wouldn’t miss this for anything,” said Moore, whose only previous Royal Ascot runner was Happy Zero five years ago. That horse was 22nd in the G1 Golden Jubilee Stakes, now known as the Diamond Jubilee.
Trainer Michael Bell, at whose Fitzroy House Stables Able Friend is lodging, does not envisage that scenario this time. He has been pleased to have in his yard the horse ranked the world’s joint second best.
“It’s an exciting time because it’s given our yard a bit of buzz to have such a good horse around the place,” said the handler, who has extended a warm welcome to the Hong Kong contingent. “I have to say he’s a great character and he’s a beast to look at. It’s been a joy to have him.
“The Queen Anne is always an excellent race, it’s always a very hard race to win, a very competitive race. Night Of Thunder was a very good horse last year and he’s come out and won the Group 1 Lockinge Stakes and he’s a pretty good horse. He’s playing on his home turf and it’s a big advantage playing at home. For me, the principal danger to Able Friend is Solow, the French horse, but Able Friend has travelled well and looks in very good shape so if he can transfer his Sha Tin form to here he’ll take all the beating.”
After his massage, Able Friend trotted up fluently, and, evidently enjoying the attention he was receiving, planted his feet resolutely for a moment or two and had to be coaxed back into his box.
“Well you wouldn’t want to go back in if you were having so much fun outdoors would you? He’s like a kid in a playground,” said Moore as his brilliant five-year-old relented and went back indoors.
Tomorrow will be time for the most serious business. No doubt the tension will start to weigh once Able Friend boards the horsebox and begins the drive to Ascot. All at Fitzroy House and at home in Hong Kong will be hoping that team Moore’s return journey will be lightened by the unburdening joy of victory.
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Photo 1:
Able Friend looks in fine form as he walks outside his stable stall at trainer Michael Bell��s Fitzroy House Stables this morning.
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