Able Friend confirms supremacy in Hong Kong Mile

Dr. and Mrs. Cornel Li Fook Kwan's Able Friend was the hottest favorite of

Sunday's four Hong Kong International Races, and the Mile kingpin took 1:33 2/5

to put on an exhibition at Sha Tin. The opening act of a double for trainer John

Moore and jockey Joao Moreira, who would later team up to take the Hong Kong Cup

with Designs on Rome, Able Friend was positively explosive en route to a 4

1/4-length conquest -- a stakes-record margin.

The Australian-bred son of Shamardal figured to be tough to beat, having

dominated the Hong Kong Classic Mile, Chairman's Trophy and the Jockey Club Mile

in his latest. He has also finished second to Designs on Rome over longer

distances in the Hong Kong Classic Cup and Hong Kong Derby, and his only career

loss at this trip came in the May 4 Champions Mile to the now-retired South

African Variety Club.

Poorly drawn in post 11 here, Able Friend was taken back near the rear of the

field early, and for an instant at the top of the lane, it appeared as though he

might be in trouble. Gold-Fun, the 2013 Hong Kong Mile runner-up who was on the

front end throughout, found another gear. But once Moreira angled Able Friend

out, the race was over, and the "Magic Man" had time to celebrate crossing the

wire.

Gold-Fun's connections were pleased with being best of the rest.

"We wanted to change things up a bit -- take the initiative and make the

pace," jockey Douglas Whyte said. "He ran very well but obviously was no match

for the winner."

"We tried different tactics but we still got beaten by a champion horse and

all credit to the winner," trainer Richard Gibson said. "We're very proud of our

guy today. He stuck on well at the end."

Gold-Fun just salvaged runner-up honors from the flying Japanese pair of

Grand Prix Boss and World Ace, the respective third and fourth. Defending

champion Glorious Days, in the thick of contention for some way, tired to fifth.

Woodbine Mile winner and Breeders' Cup Mile third Trade Storm was seventh.

Ambitious Dragon, the 2012 winner, was scratched Sunday morning after failing to

get over a right front foot problem.