Able Friend (Shamardal) is undoubtedly the star of Hong Kong racing and on 25 October he made the perfect return to the racecourse when taking the Premier Bowl (a local G2 contest) at Sha Tin.
John Moore’s charge raced towards the rear of the field during the early stages and rounding the final turn was dead last. As Gold Fun and Peniaphobia settled down to do battle at the front, Able Friend came with his now customary flying finish to sweep past every runner and win by half a length.
Able Friend has now won no fewer than nine Black type contests, with four of those at G1 level. Earlier this year, he took the G1 Champions Mile at Sha Tin and won the G1 Hong Kong Mile last December – a race he will now aim to win for the second year in a row.
Bred by Ramsey Pastoral Co Pty Ltd, Able Friend is out of the Stakes-winning three-year-old Ponte Piccolo (Volksraad), herself a half-sister to South African G1 winner Global News.
Able Friend is one of 15 individual Group winners this year for Shamardal, also sire of G1 Cheveley Park Stakes heroine Lumiere, plus Singapore Airlines International Cup winner Dan Excel.
