More success for Able Friend

Able Friend, the exciting Australian-bred son of Shamardal, landed his sixth victory from 11 career starts on Sunday April 6 when taking the Listed Chairman's Trophy over a mile at Sha Tin. Held up in rear early in the local G2 contest, he made his move at the top of the straight, only having to be nudged out to the line to win with plenty in hand, with the early pacesetter Pleasure Gains (a son of Cape Cross) finishing third.

The winner of the Hong Kong Classic Mile (a local G1) earlier in the season, he has been second in the Hong Kong Derby and Hong Kong Classic Cup on his last two starts and has career earnings well in excess of a million euros.

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 has sired seven Stakes winners in 2014 including G2-winning Australian juvenile Ghibellines, Meydan G2 winner Excellent Result and multiple Classic heroine Ihtimal. Other leading performers so far this year include Mukhadram, a gallant second in the world's richest race, the Dubai World Cup and Bow Creek, who won a Listed race yesterday at Lingfield Park. Shamardal stands at Kildangan Stud at a fee of €50,000 alongside his G1-winning juvenile son Casamento (€5,000).