News

Aussies Blow Away Hong Kong

15th Mar 2015

Australian bred and Inglis sold graduates Able Friend and Luger blew away their opposition at Sha Tin on Sunday winning the day’s two feature races, the Queens’ Silver Jubilee Cup and Hong Kong Derby.

Able Friend (Shamardal x Ponte Piccolo) was simply dominant running away with the Group 1 Queens’ Silver Jubilee Cup over 1400m by over two lengths without jockey Joao Moreira having to use the whip.

“With two hundred meters to go I was locked up on the inside, but when the gap came he showed his great turn of foot, he is so enjoyable to sit on,” said Joao Moreira.

The hulking chestnut has now won three International Group 1 races in a row since December, the Longines Hong Kong Mile, The Stewards Cup and now The Queens’ Silver Jubilee Cup.

“He could be a world champion miler, I know he’s got to travel overseas to prove it, but what he’s done so far is just unbelievable,” said trainer John Moore

Bred by Stuart Ramsey, Able Friend was purchased by George Moore Bloodstock for $550,000 at the 2011 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale from the Turangga Farm draft.

The Queens’ Silver Jubilee win takes Able Friend’s earnings in Hong Kong past HK$42,000,000 = A$7,000,000.

John Moore indicated that the Champions Mile is next for Able Friend then the team might look overseas to prove to the world that they have the best miler on the planet.

Luger (Choisir x Miss Conception) was too good for his rivals in the BMW Hong Kong Derby, sprinting away to victory despite sitting three wide with no cover for the entire 2000m journey.

“Sitting three wide wasn’t the ideal position but I knew I was on the best horse in the race and kept him happy and relaxed in the run. When he got a bump he woke up and powered away. There are bigger things to come for this fella,” said jockey Zac Purton.

The son of Choisir was purchased by John Foote Bloodstock for $260,000 at the 2012 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale from the draft of Bylong Park Thoroughbreds, which bred Luger.

Trainer John Size has always held Luger in high regard and was pleased to see the four-year-old realise his potential in Hong Kong’s prestigious race.

“He always been impressive every time he’s been to the races, he’s been a good horse since his first day on the racetrack and shown that he is a Group 1 horse,” said John Size.

Luger earned his owner Terry Fok Kwong Hang the lion’s share of the HK$18,000,000 Derby prize pool to take the gelding’s earnings to HK$15,000,000 = A$2,500,000.

The 2015 edition of the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, the source of Able Friend and Luger, will be held on 7, 8 and 9 April next month. Both Turangga Farm and Bylong Park Thoroughbreds are set to offer their best bred and conformed yearlings at the sale.