By David Morgan
Able Friend elicited nods of endorsement from the early-to-rise watchers at a floodlit Sha Tin this morning, Thursday, 8 December, after an eye-catching gallop down the home stretch, his final fast work before Sunday’s G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Mile.
The big chestnut spotted his talented stablemate Mr Bogart a good length turning into the straight but was easily on top as the pair flashed past the winning post; jockey Joao Moreira exerting little pressure and the seven-year-old’s ears flicking confidently. The time for the 1200m turf gallop was 1m 15.6s (13.9, 13.4, 14.5, 12.1, 10.5, 11.2).
“He was impressive in his work this morning,” trainer John Moore said. But the handler, seeking a seventh victory at the HK$83 million LONGINES Hong Kong International Races, is proceeding with caution, his charge having returned to race action only three weeks ago from an 11-month injury lay-off.
“He had a good blow after that gallop but recovered quickly, but Joao (Moreira) did say it was a pity that we didn’t get that extra race into him. It was an impressive gallop but Joao was still a little bit reserved. The incident in quarantine (fell and injured his hind quarters) delayed his prep and from the wide gate on Sunday his fitness will definitely be tested.”
Able Friend has drawn barrier 14, widest of all, for Sunday’s Mile. And while the former Hong Kong Horse of the Year was imperious when landing the Mile in 2014 after breaking from gate 10 of 10, Moore believes the scenario this time is significantly different.
“He was a very fit horse two years ago when he won from a wide draw and he was peaking at that time,” he explained.
“Able Friend’s draw is a grave concern for the simple reason that he’s going into the race not 100 per cent fit, in the sense that he missed an intended run going in, so he’s had just the one run leading into this race. I was hoping for a middle gate and that he could get some nice cover. From gate 14 he’s going to come back to the rear of the field and his task is going to be set; with respect to getting home in a very slick sectional time. His fitness is suspect. I’m worried.”
The trainer was more bullish about Helene Paragon who also contests the Mile.
“Hugh Bowman was ecstatic about his work this morning,” he said, after the four-year-old colt, never a flashy worker, had clocked 1m 15.2s (23.8, 27.8, 23.6) for 1200m, in company with the useful companion, Midnight Rattler.
“He's drawn the gun gate (five) and he should have won last time,” Moore added. “From that gate jockey Hugh Bowman will give him a great ride and given clear running in the straight he's one of the horses to beat. Taking into consideration the factors I've spoken about with Able Friend - the poor gate and the fitness query - Helene Paragon would be the pick of my runners in the race.”
Moore relies on Designs On Rome in the LONGINES Hong Kong Cup (2000m). The gelding landed that prize in 2014 but faces a stiff Japanese challenge this time around; one that includes last year’s winner, A Shin Hikari, and the 2015 Hong Kong Mile hero Maurice.
“The Japanese armada is in town,” he observed. “They've come in full force and I take them very seriously, they can compete on the world stage anywhere but my horses, bar Able Friend, are fully prepared and we have home town advantage.
“Designs On Rome has drawn a good gate (six). He always goes back so Joao (Moreira) has to be conscious of how much ground he gives way early. You can forgive his last run, it was second-up syndrome factor and he was flat. Joao rode him this morning and said he was a fitter horse than last year. Given a good tactical ride by Joao, we're in there with a chance.”
Designs On Rome galloped 1200m and closed out down the straight in company with Harbour Master in a time of 1m 16.2s (25.2 28.3 22.7) for 1200m. Meanwhile, Moore’s LONGINES Hong Kong Vase (2400m) hope, Helene Happy Star, galloped 1200m under Bowman in 1m 21.4s (28.3, 30.1, 23.0).
Moore’s big LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint (1200m) hope, Not Listenin’tome, breezed along the backstretch after his stablemates had all quickened through their final fast workouts under the grandstand’s shadow.
“We’ve tried something a bit different with his training programme and he's going very well,” the trainer said. “His win in the trial was good. Lucky Bubbles did close late and I don't think he was really knocked around but my horse won well.”
Not Listenin’tome has drawn favourably in gate four for Sunday’s 14-runner speed test and Moore is delighted with the gelding’s form coming out of a win in last month’s G2 Jockey Club Sprint at the course and distance.
“We’ve drawn very well, the Hong Kong horses (in the Sprint). There’s going to be quite some speed underneath. I think Not Listenin’tome and Takedown have the same amount of speed early and they're likely to be upsides early, which makes it all the more interesting.
“He’s a fitter horse than last year. There’s a lot of speed drawn inside him and he’s going to get the gun run in behind them.”
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Photo 1:
Able Friend gallops on the Sha Tin turf track this morning.
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