News

Able Friend Champion Miler And Horse Of The Year

10th Jul 2015

Following a stellar season, Aussie-bred and Inglis-sold galloper Able Friend has claimed more accolades, this time the titles of Champion Miler and Horse of the Year at The Hong Kong Jockey Club Champion Awards overnight.

Able Friend (Shamardal x Ponte Piccolo) is owned and raced by Dr & Mrs Cornel Li Fook Kwan, and under the guidance of leading trainer John Moore has won six consecutive races during the current season, four at Group 1 level.

In a season full of highlights Able Friend achieved a peak rating of 127 following his hugely impressive win in the Group 1 Hong Kong Mile, which is the highest international rating ever allocated to a horse trained in Hong Kong.

Able Friend began 2015 with four straight wins before being invited to contest the Group 1 Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot last month.

Despite meeting conditions not to his liking at the recent Royal Ascot meeting, the ‘Beast From The East’ maintains an international rating of 125, making him the equal highest-rated miler of 2015 alongside Shared Belief.

The son of Shamardal was bred and sold by Stuart Ramsey’s Scone-based Turangga Farm draft at the 2011 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale to Hong Kong bloodstock agent George Moore for $550,000.

“Able Friend really stood out to me at the Easter Sale, and now it’s easy to see why,” said George Moore.

“We have had such an incredible season with this horse, and to receive this honour is just the icing on the cake,” George added.

Along with international popularity and the adoration of the Hong Kong racing public, Able Friend has notched up 12 victories from 19 starts across three seasons of racing, earning a total of HK$52,393,624 = A$9,030,590.