Worrisome Draw for Able Friend

For the third time in three years, former Hong Kong Horse of the Year Able Friend (Aus) (Shamardal) has been dealt a double-digit draw for the G1 Longines Hong Kong Mile. In order to win the HK$23-million event for the second time, the burly chestnut will have to overcome the widest alley after being assigned gate 14 during Thursday's barrier draw, held in the Sha Tin parade ring.

Widest of 10 when favored at 30 cents on the dollar to win the 2014, he turned on the afterburners late for an imperious 4 1/4-length victory, but he could not repeat the feat last year from the 10 hole, falling to third behind his chief adversary Maurice (Jpn) (Screen Hero {Jpn}). Joao Moreira has the call for trainer John Moore.

“I was hoping for a middle gate and that he could get some nice cover,” the conditioner said immediately after the draw. “From gate 14, he's going to come back to the rear of the field and his task is going to be set–the task of getting home in a very slick sectional time. His fitness is suspect, so I'm worried.”

Japan puts forth a three-pronged attack to try to retain the Mile trophy, with Logotype (Jpn) (Lohengrin {Jpn}) perhaps the pick of the lot. The nearly black horse will leave from gate two beneath Mirco Demuro, and he is likely to be part of what should be a modest early tempo with G2 Jockey Club Mile winner Beauty Only (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}).

When A Shin Hikari (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) ran off from the field to win the 2015 G1 Longines Hong Kong Cup, he, too, had a high draw in 11 to deal with, but cleared the field with little fuss and it was all over but the shouting. It should be much more straight-forward this time around for Yutaka Take from gate one, though his compatriot and likely favorite Maurice (Jpn) (Screen Hero {Jpn}) should not be too far away in the run. The reigning Japanese Horse of the Year, having his last career start, drew gate eight with Ryan Moore.

“Very good draw,” said A Shin Hikari's trainer Masanori Sakaguchi. “Actually four to five was my ideal. I just wish he could set the pace and lead the field until the finish.”

With a short run into the first corner, post positions are certainly significant for the G1 Longines Hong Kong Sprint, but there were relatively few hard-luck stories to be told following the draw. Japan's Big Arthur (Jpn) (Sakura Bakushin O {Jpn}), who found himself locked away in all sorts of bother with a low draw last time in the G1 Sprinters' S., drew an outside gate in stall 13, one slot to the inside of the speedy Signs of Blessing (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}). The latter may have been done the fewest number of favors, as he will run the risk of being hung out to dry with other quality speed drawn elsewhere, including defending champ Peniaphobia (Ire) (Dandy Man {Ire}) from the inside box. He overcame gate 14 to win 12 months back.

“Well, I was hoping for a good draw and we got a good draw,” said the latter's trainer Tony Cruz. “Gate one is a perfect draw. There is a big difference between one and 14 from the 1200m because they hit the turn pretty quick, so we don't have to use the horse up as much early as we did last season.”

With a big run through the stretch for the first time, the draw for the G1 Longines Hong Kong Vase is significantly less crucial. One year after winning the 2400-metre test from the nine hole, Highland Reel (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) will load gate 10 Sunday afternoon with Ryan Moore at the controls. The chief competition could come from the rail-drawn G1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud winner Silverwave (Fr) (Silver Frost {Ire}); Big Orange (GB) (Duke of Marmalade {Ire}) from gate seven; and last year's Cup runner-up Nuovo Record (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}) in stall 12.