Shamardal’s Able Friend a class above in the Hong Kong Mile

Shamardal’s star miler Able Friend was sent off as one of the shortest-priced favourites ever in the G1 Hong Kong Mile at Sha Tin today and he certainly lived up to the hype, utterly dominating his rivals to land the coveted contest (worth over a million pounds to the winner) by four and a half lengths.

As expected, he was settled well off the pace under jockey Joao Moreira and bowled along in second-last place, well behind the strong early pace of Gold-Fun. Asked to begin his run as they entered the final turn, the five-year-old responded well and demonstrating a brilliant burst of speed a furlong from home, swept past his rivals with consummate ease and won by four and a half lengths.

Winner of the G2 Jockey Club Mile three weeks ago, Able Friend has now been victorious on eight occasions, including the Hong Kong Classic Mile (a local G1 contest) back in January. He could now head to Dubai, with the Dubai Duty Free cited as a possible target.

Bred in Australia by Ramsey Pastoral Co Pty Ltd, he is out of the Group-placed, Stakes-winning Volksraad mare Ponte Piccolo, herself a half-sister to G1 winner Global News.

Shamardal has enjoyed a truly superb year, with Able Friend becoming his fourth winner at the highest level in 2014 (and 13th overall), joining Mukhadram, Baltic Baroness and Dunboyne Express. He has sired 24 Black type winners in total this year, plus eight horses who have been placed at G1 level, including exciting colt Toscanini, plus Moyglare Stud Stakes second and G2 Rockfel Stakes winner Lucida. He is also the leading earner in Europe and North America, as shown in the table.

His fee for 2015 is €70,000, October 1st Special Live Foal.