Able Friend

Breeding: Shamardal (USA) x Ponte Piccolo (NZ)
Breeder: Ramsey Pastoral Company Pty Ltd
Race: HK-2 – HKJC Premier Bowl H. – 25-Oct-15, 2015 Champions Mile (G1), 2015 Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup (G1), The Stewards’ Cup (G1), The Longines Hong Kong Mile (G1)
Cost: $550,000
Buyer: George Moore Bloodstock

Highlights

Foaled at Stuart Ramsey’s Turangga Farm in the Segenhoe Valley, just a few minutes away from Scone in the Hunter Valley, Able Friend is by Darley’s former shuttle stallion Shamardal, out of the Volksraad mare Ponte Piccolo.

Offered for sale at the 2011 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale, the imposing chestnut was knocked down to Hong Kong-based agent George Moore Bloodstock for $550,000, the highest priced recorded in Australia for a colt by his sire.

Initially trained in Australia by Hawkes Racing for owners Dr and Mrs Cornel Li Fook Kwan, where, as a three-year-old Able Friend had two starts, a new chapter of his career commenced in Hong Kong under the care of John Moore.

A winner of the HK-Group 1 Hong Kong Classic at just his fifth start in Hong Kong, Able Friend has competed at Group 1 or Group 2 level in all his starts since. With wins also in the Champions Mile, Stewards’ Cup, Hong Kong Mile, Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup, all at Group 1 level, Able Friend was duly crowned Head of the 2015 World Thoroughbred Rankings (Sprint), Equal Leading Older Male on the 2015 WTR (Mile), Hong Kong Horse of the Year and Champion Miler in Hong Kong in 2014-15.

Race Wins and Replays