G2 success for Able Friend

Able Friend, the exciting Australian-bred son of Shamardal, landed his seventh victory from 14 career starts on Sunday November 23 when taking the G2 Jockey Club Mile at Sha Tin. Held up in fifth, he made smooth progress in the straight and taking the lead on the bridle, only had to be nudged out to the line to win impressively by two-and-a-quarter lengths.

Bred by Ramsey Pastoral Co Pty Ltd, Able Friend is the first Stakes winner bred out of the Stakes-winning three-year-old Ponte Piccolo (Volksraad), who is herself a half-sister to South African G1 winner Global News.

Shamardal is enjoying a superb season siring 24 individual Stakes winners. Amongst this number are G1 winners Mukhadram, Dan Excel and Baltic Baroness with G2 Rockfel heroine Lucida and G1 colt Toscanini heading his juveniles. Shamardal will stand this coming season at a fee of €70,000.