Able Friend is available at 2014 Hong Kong Mile odds of $1.90 despite being allocated an outside gate for the Group 1 event that will be held at Sha Tin on Sunday.
John Moore is confident that Able Friend can win the Hong Kong Mile at Sha Tin this weekend. Photo by: Daniel Costello
Able Friend stamped himself as a clear favourite for the Group 1 Hong Kong Mile (1600m) when he recorded a dominant two and a half lengths win over Gold-Fun and Ambitious Dragon in the Group 2 Jockey Club Mile (1600m) at Sha Tin on November and the support has not wavered heading into the race.
The Shamardal gelding is chasing his second win at Group 1 level after he took out the Group 1 Hong Kong Classic Mile (1600m) earlier this year and trainer John Moore believes that the five-year-old is his best winning chance at Sha Tin on Sunday.
“You wouldn’t have to do much more the way that he won the trial two weeks back and beating Gold-Fun, who is the champion miler in Hong Kong,” Moore said.
“I haven’t done much more with him because he did it so well and from that point of view we are going into the race thinking that he is the one to beat.
“We don’t see the gate as a problem because we see speed underneath him and he will probably come into ten.
“Even if he did get three deep he is still the sort of horse that is very tractable and he has an unbelievable kick.
“I think there is big and better things for him even after this race and he is definitely the one to beat.”
Gold-Fun finished second behind Able Friend in the Jockey Club Mile and he is rated the major danger to his rival in the Hong Kong Cup Mile this weekend; with the Le Vie Dei Colori gelding available at a quote of $5.50 to record his third win at Group 1 level this weekend.
The five-year-old finished a close second behind Glorious Days in the 2013 edition of the Hong Kong Mile, but he won the Group 1 Silver Jubilee Cup (1400m) at Sha Tin earlier this year and has been the consistent miler in Hong Kong over the past two seasons.
The wildcard in the 2014 Hong Kong Mile field is Japanese galloper Fiero and he is currently on the third line of betting at a quote of $10.
Fiero started his racing season with a close third in the Group 2 Mainichi Broadcast Swan Stakes (1407m) at Kyoto on November 1 before he finished a close second behind Danon Shark in the Group 1 Mile Championship at the same venue at the same venue on November 23.
Veteran gelding Ambitious Dragon is also available at Hong Kong Mile odds of $10 after making a strong return to racing in the Group 2 Sha Tin Trophy (1600m) and Jockey Club Mile, while last year’s winner Glorious Days is priced at $12 to record back-to-back wins.
