Able One Leads NZ Trifecta in Champions Mile
26 April 2010
The gallant Able One proved a popular winner at Sha Tin last night, leading home a NZ-bred trifecta in the Hong Kong Champions Mile.
Winning the prestigious race for the second time in his career, three years after he initially won it, Able One (Cape Cross x Gardenia by Danehill) bounced out of the starting gates to be fourth one back and one of the rails with Darren Beadman in the saddle.
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�Able One and Darren Beadman salute their fans after their HKJC Champions Mile victory yesterday. Photo: HKJC |
After straightening, he unleashed his devastating sprint to haul in the leaders and race away to a comfortable win in a smashing time of 1:33.66. Filling the minor places were the Kiwi pair Fellowship (O'Reilly x Mystical Flight by Danzalion) for trainer Paul O'Sullivan with Beauty Flash (Golan x Wychwood Rose by Volksraad) third.
Able One heralded his return to form earlier this month, winning the HKJC Chairman's Trophy with trainer John Moore commenting yesterday that he felt his charge is as sound as ever and will now head to the Group 1 Yasuda Kinen in Japan on Sunday 6 June.
The mile specialist was initially sold through at the 2004 Karaka Select Sale for $190,000 and was pinhooked to the Ready to Run Sale where he was snapped up by Paul Beamish Bloodstock for $270,000 from Phoenix Park. He travelled to Australia where he won his first start before continuing on to Hong Kong to finish second on debut. In his next start, he went one better to notch up his first win on Hong Kong soil and just over a year later he proved his purchase price winning his first Champions Mile.
Winner of the Group 1 Hong Kong Classic Mile in January, Beauty Flash was a $65,000 purchase by Hong Kong-based agent Dan O'Donnell from Halidon Hill at the 2007 Karaka Select Sale. Entered in the National Weanling, Broodmare and Mixed Bloodstock Sale next week is a close relation to Beauty Flash at Lot 245�while Fellowship's second provides an update to Lot 489's pedigree.
NZ-bred horses took out six of the ten-race card with a further two NZB graudates for eight in total including:
| Horse | Race | Breeding | Trainer | Breeder | NZB Sale Info |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Moonglow | Race 1 Class 4 1800m | Colombia x Kings Bride | KL Man | Paramount Lodge | Bought by Rogerson Bloodstock at the 2004 Festival Sale from Paramount Lodge for $10,000 |
| Jun Qi | Race 2 Class 3 1200m | Pentire x She's Heaven Cent | DJ Hall | Bijoux Bloodstock | Bought by Dean Hawthorne Bloodstock at the 2007 Select Sale from Curraghmore Stud for $92,500 |
| Praising | Race 3 Class 4 1200m | Flying Spur x Movie Star | PF Yiu | Torryburn Stud | Bought by Mr FW Mitchell at the 2008 Ready to Run Sale from Ascot Farm for $230,000 |
| Believe in Change | Race 4 Class 4 1600m | Kilimanjaro x Hinekaha | P O'Sullivan | CR Grace | Half-sister by Grosvenor entered at Lot 651 in next week's Broodmare Session |
| Entrapment | Race 5 Class 2 1200m | Halo Homewrecker x Miabondialee | J Size | Mr T Lillis | Bought by John Foote at the 2008 Carnival Sale from Seaton Park for $45,000 |
| Grand Dancer | Race 9 Class 3 1400m� | No Excuse Needed x Clermont Rose | S Woods | Little Avondale Trust | Bought by Wallace Thoroughbreds at the 2006 Premier Sale from Little Avondale Stud for $260,000 |
| Quick Touch | Race 10 Class 1 1400m | Faltaat x Bushfire Dancer | CS Shum | Mrs JM & RC Scown | Passed 2006 Premier Yearling Sale |