Able Friend has always promised he could be something special and the giant chestnut turned potential into reality with a dominant Group One performance in the Hong Kong Classic Mile that was dedicated to trainer John Moore's late wife.
Cheryl Moore died on Friday night after battling cancer and Able Friend's owner Cornel Li Fook-kwan paid tribute to her at an emotional post-race presentation. "We'd like to dedicate the win to Cheryl," he said. "She has always had such a great bond with our horses and I'm sure she'd be watching."
Joao Moreira brought up his first Hong Kong Group One victory, as the son of Shamardal justified his odds-on quote, bursting clear early in the straight and coasting away to score by half a length in slick time (1:33.43).
Moore sent out four runners, with stablemate Designs On Rome (Tommy Berry) chasing gamely for a half-length second and Michael Chang Chun-wai's Dibiyani (Zac Purton) another 2-3/4 lengths away, hitting the line strongly for third.
The Brazilian said Able Friend, who had now won four from five for Moore, was potentially the best he had ever ridden.
"He has got such a bright future, he has such a strong character and he has got such a great turn of foot - I wasn't even pressing him that much and straight away I was in front," he said.
Moore called it "the best Classic Mile field that I've seen since I've been in Hong Kong", and went on to anoint the horse he calls "Big Red" a future star.
"I think I've got the real deal on my hands," Moore said. "I believe he'll be one of Hong Kong's leading lights in the future."
Able Friend's dominance did not leave much hope for the chasing brigade in the remaining races of the four-year-old series, particularly after Moreira indicated the horse may get even better as the races progress up in distance through the Hong Kong Classic Cup (1,800m) in just under one month, and Group One BMW Hong Kong Derby (2,000m) on March 16.
"We've done a lot of work teaching him to switch off at track work - he is one of those horses that if you teach him something, he is going to learn. He will relax and that will make him hard to hold out in the longer races, I'm happy to stick with him," Moreira said.
Having ridden the winner previously, Berry knew he would have his work cut out getting past Able Friend in the straight, and said Designs On Rome's best chance of beating him would be over 2,000m.
"He will be spot on for the Derby, and he will be hard to hold out over 1,800m too, but I'll just be hoping the other bloke [Able Friend] doesn't have too much left in the tank," Berry said.
It appears Dibiyani will also be best when he gets to the Derby distance, but even though Purton was forced back from a wide barrier, he said his horse might need more circumstances in his favour to turn the tables on the winner.
"What the winner has that my horse doesn't is tactical ability - he was entitled to finish the race off, coming wide didn't really suit today," he said.
Dennis Yip Chor-hong's All You Wish ran only fairly into fourth after being given an easy run from gate one by Tye Angland.
Moore indicated both Flagship Shine, who faded into eighth after being pushed into a prominent position, and Secret Sham, who was outclassed in sixth, would both press on to the remaining legs of the four-year-old series.
"I think with some cover Flagship Shine will be okay, he just needs a good draw," Moore said.
