With the Hong Kong International Races just seven weeks down the road, any number of big guns were rolled out Sunday afternoon at Sha Tin, but none bigger than reigning Horse of the Year Able Friend (Aus) (Shamardal).
The 6-year-old was having his first run since his sub-par sixth to Solow (Ire) (Singspiel {Ire}) in the G1 Queen Anne S. on opening day of the Royal Ascot meeting in mid-June, but the task before him in the Premier Bowl H. was no easy one. Not only would he have to carry top weight of 133 pounds and give horses like G1 Longines Hong Kong Sprint hero Aerovelocity (NZ) (Pins {Aus}) nine pounds, but he was also assigned gate 14, a near-impossible mission with a relatively short run to the first turn. The punters were willing to give Able Friend this run, despite trainer John Moore warning earlier in the week that the 1283-pound behemoth might just be up to this despite the layoff, and the tote read 9-1 at post time.
With Joao Moreira having previously committed to Peniaphobia (Ire) (Dandy Man {Ire}), it was Karis Teetan atop Able Friend and the duo dropped back to the tail of the field early on as Amber Sky (Aus) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}) burned across to lead through reasonably fast splits. Still last and behind horses at the final corner, Able Friend was forced to wait, then switched out and around a weakening Dundonnell (First Defence) to launch his rally down the wide outside, precluding camera coverage. Not Listenin'tome (Aus) (Dylan Thomas {Ire}), last seen winning the National Day Cup H. up the straight course Oct. 1, hit the front going well at the furlong marker, but he was swarmed by Gold-Fun and Peniaphobia, who looked to have the race between them in the final 150 meters. But out of nowhere appeared the white cheekpieces of Able Friend and he stormed home with a final 400 meters in :22.15 for a breathtaking victory.
Able Friend was fourth behind Aerovelocity in last year's Premier Bowl, but came into this first-up run slightly fitter.
“I said to all the press that it was a different soundness issue last season to this season and we got it right,” said winning trainer John Moore. “We got his hind quarter problems fixed up pretty quickly this time. I was able to get a lot more work into him this time and I maintained very good weight with him.”
The disappointment of the race was Aerovelocity, who dropped away tamely inside the final furlong and was later discovered to have an irregular heartbeat and scoped with significant blood in his trachea
Able Friend is set to make his next start in the G2 Jockey Club Mile Nov. 22.
Sunday, Sha Tin, Hong Kong
PREMIER BOWL H., HK$4,000,000 (US$516,126), Sha Tin, 10-25, 3yo/up, 1200mT, 1:08.35, gd/fm.
1–ABLE FRIEND (AUS), 133, g, 6, Shamardal–Ponte Piccolo (NZ) (SW & MGSP-Aus, $191,273), by Volksraad (GB). (A$550,000 Ylg '11 INGEAS). O-Dr & Mrs Cornel Li; B-Ramsey Pastoral Co Pty Ltd; T-John Moore; J-Karis Teetan; HK$2,280,000. Lifetime Record: Horse of the Year, Ch. Miler, MG1SW-HK, 20-13-4-1, HK$54,829,304.
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2–Gold-Fun (Ire), 127, g, 6, Le Vie Dei Colori (GB)–Goodwood March (GB), by Foxhound. (10,000gns Ylg '10 TATOCT). O-Pan Sutong. HK$880,000.
3–Peniaphobia (Ire), 122, g, 4, Dandy Man (Ire)–Umlani (Ire), by Great Commotion. (€11,000 Wlg '11 GOFNOV; £20,000 Ylg '12 DONAUG). O-Huang Kai Wen. HK$460,000.
Margins: HF, 1, 3/4. Odds: 9-1, 4-1, 48-10.
Also Ran: Charles the Great (Ire), Lucky Nine (Ire), Not Listenin'tome (Aus), Smart Volatility (Aus), Dundonnell, Golden Harvest (Aus), Tour de Force (Aus), Secret Sham (Aus), Bundle of Joy (Aus), Amber Sky (Aus), Aerovelocity (NZ).
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