Able Friend is the standout among the high-class entries for the HKG2 Chairman’s Trophy at Sha Tin on Tuesday.
The world’s highest-rated turf miler is one of eight talented candidates engaged in the 1600m contest, which is the feature race on a quality card that also includes the HKG3 Bauhinia Sprint Trophy (1000m).
John Moore’s stable star has won his last four starts, including an imperious hat-trick of Group 1 victories in the Longines's Hong Kong Mile (1600m), Stewards’ Cup (1600m) and Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup (1400m).
The big chestnut won last year’s Chairman’s Trophy en route to running second behind Variety Club in the 2014 G1 Champions Mile, and Able Friend has that prestigious contest on 3 May as his main late-season target.
Joao Moreira has been the rider for each of the Shamardal five-year-old’s big-race triumphs and is looking forward to getting the leg up again next week.
“I just hope I can give him a good ride and that he can bring his best to the race. He is one of the best around and I’m just very pleased to be riding him,” said Moreira.
The Brazilian was on board for a turf gallop at Sha Tin on Thursday. Able Friend went 800m in 52.8s (27.2, 25.6).
The Chairman’s Trophy also features the Tony Cruz-trained Beauty Flame, runner-up in the Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup last start, as well as G1 winners Glorious Days, trained by John Size, and Dan Excel from the Moore stable.
Moore’s G1 Stewards’ Cup third Rewarding Hero is also engaged, as is another from the same yard, Secret Sham.
The Size-trained Real Specialist and the Caspar Fownes-trained Rainbow Chic complete the line-up.
