Don't write off this old friend - he's still willing and very able
Has he still got it? It’s the same question facing every horse on their return from injury and fans of Able Friend will be looking for a positive answer at next month’s Hong Kong International meeting.
Able Friend was one of the highest-rated horses on the planet in 2014 and 2015, but he was beaten in the Hong Kong Mile late last year after suffering from a sore foot and in January he was diagnosed with a rare tendon injury.
He returned to the track after an 11-month break to finish fourth in the Jockey Club Sprint on Sunday. It was a solid return to action, although an RPR of 112 ranks this as his weakest performance since flopping at Royal Ascot in June 2015.
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