Able Friend tops Moore��s trial squad, no Dubai for Paragon

14/02/2017

By David Morgan

Amber Sky showed some of his old dash in this morning’s (Tuesday, 14 February) first barrier trial at Sha Tin, but most eyes were fixed some 11 lengths behind Ricky Yiu’s veteran speedster, where the John Moore-trained Able Friend, Werther, Helene Paragon and Designs On Rome closed off in a bunch.

Able Friend was the first of Moore’s Group 1 heavyweights to pass the post at the end of the 1000m turf hit-out. The imposing Shamardal gelding, arguably an unlucky third to stablemate Helene Paragon in last month’s G1 Stewards’ Cup (1600m), is being aimed at a rematch with that rival in the G1 Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup (1400m) on 26 February.

“Able Friend would have won last time if he’d had clear running. He’s just too good for them but things didn't work out in the run,” Moore asserted before turning his attention back to the turf trial.

“Joao (Moreira) was noticeably happy about Able Friend and the way he pulled up strongly there,” he said after the former Hong Kong Horse of the Year had stopped the clock at 59.27s, 11 and a quarter lengths behind 2014 G1 Al Quoz Sprint (1000m) hero Amber Sky.

With Amber Sky scooting along the grandstand rail in isolation, Werther led the Moore string, plus the Peter Ho-trained Limitless, down centre track almost in single file. Able Friend cruised in third, a couple of lengths behind Werther, until Moreira’s hands loosened the reins a fraction, prompting his mount to advance upsides through the closing stages and edge a neck in front close home.

Helene Paragon came next under Douglas Whyte, a length and three quarters back, with the Karis Teetan-ridden Designs On Rome alongside.

A tilt at the G1 Dubai Turf had been mooted for the Woo family-owned Helene Paragon after his top level breakthrough in the Stewards’ Cup last start, but Moore revealed that any overseas plans had been shelved, certainly for this season.

“Helene Paragon isn’t going anywhere now,” he said. “We’d looked at going to Dubai for the turf race over 1800 metres but Mr. Woo wants to focus on the big races here in Hong Kong this season with the target being the Champions Mile.”

Moore was delighted with each of his stable’s triallists and made special mention of Werther, who returned from injury with a solid sixth in the Stewards’ Cup and will now push on to the G1 Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup (2000m) in 12 days’ time. Designs On Rome, a two-time winner of that race, will bid for a three-timer in that second leg of the Hong Kong Triple Crown.

“Sam (Clipperton) mentioned that Werther, at the end of it, he had trouble pulling him up – the horse wanted to get on with it,” Moore enthused.

“Amber Sky went off in front and my lot just grouped together, very much like a European gallop, like you’d see at Newmarket or Chantilly,” he continued. “They bunched up and got to the line really strongly, so I’m happy about that – all four trialled particularly well.”

Amber Sky stopped the clock at 57.47s under apprentice Dylan Mo and will likely head to a Class 1 handicap down Sha Tin’s 1000m straight on 5 March. Limitless, last year’s Britannia Handicap winner, was restrained for cover at the tail under Silvestre de Sousa and finished off adequately under a hold.