Coincidences and storylines point to 'date with destiny' for Able Friend

A coincidence cleverly spotted by a loyal Happy Lucky Dragon Win reader during the week: the name of Able Friend’s dam, Ponte Piccolo, is Italian for “little bridge”.

Of course, that was the name of the last Hong Kong-trained Royal Ascot runner, a winner of the King’s Stand Stakes on the first day three years ago.

It’s a nice omen perhaps, but this quirky little synchronicity has got nothing on the interwoven storylines in the ‘Able Friend raids Royal Ascot’ story, full of Sliding Doors moments and coincidences.

This story has a trainer, John Moore, for whom the handler of Able Friend’s main rival is a childhood friend; a jockey, Joao Moreira, who overcame myriad obstacles just to get out of childhood poverty; and an owner, Cornel Li Fook-kwan, with a rich family history with the Hong Kong Jockey Club. Oh, and a massive horse whose dominance has sent shockwaves through Sha Tin.

Throw it all together and Able Friend’s sporting tilt at Tuesday’s Queen Anne Stakes has a “date with destiny” feel.