Second G1 success for Able Friend

Able Friend (Shamardal), the world's 3rd best horse of 2014 with a rating of 127 and the best that Hong Kong has ever had, landed his second successive G1 on Sunday January 25 when taking the one mile Stewards Cup at Sha Tin. Held up near the rear off slow early fractions, he made his move in the straight and only needed to be nudged out to record a very easy success, with Exceed And Excel's son Rewarding Hero running a gallant third to become his sires 19th G1 performer. Able Friend now won nine of his 16 career starts with prize-money well in excess of €3 million.

Bred by Ramsey Pastoral Co Pty Ltd, Able Friend is the first Stakes winner bred out of the Stakes-winning three-year-old Ponte Piccolo (Volksraad), who is herself a half-sister to South African G1-winner Global News.

Shamardal sired 24 Stakes winners in 2014 including four at G1 level; Able Friend, Mukhadram, Dan Excel and Baltic Baroness, with his prize-money total in excess of any other European or North American stallion. He is standing this current season at a fee €70,000 alongside his juvenile G1-winning son Casamento (€5,000).