Champion trainer Caspar Fownes will be a spectator when the two Group Ones are decided at Sha Tin on Sunday after deciding to miss the Stewards' Cup with Military Attack and the Kent & Curwen Centenary Sprint Cup with Lucky Nine.
As if Able Friend needed help, the absence of the second highest-rated horse in town will further smooth the way for the world's top miler to add the HK$10 million Stewards' Cup to his record after Fownes felt Military Attack required more time.
"I was really happy with him going into the Hong Kong Cup and he just got nutted, but I don't feel he has been quite as good coming to this race," Fownes said on Monday.
"I think with a couple more weeks he'll pick up again, so I've spoken to his owner and he'll miss the Stewards' Cup and will run again in the Centenary Vase on February 7 and then into the Gold Cup."
Fownes said eight-year-old Lucky Nine, so disappointing in the Longines Hong Kong Sprint just over a month ago, would also miss the HK$6.6 million Centenary Sprint Cup up the straight 1,000m, never his best course in any case.
"To be honest, I haven't been able to put my finger on why he ran so badly on international day, but he is getting older and he's been at the top level for so long I suppose he's going to put in the odd bad one now and then," Fownes said.
"But I've got a feeling a change of direction might be good for him. I'll keep him fresh and run him in the Chairman's Sprint next month and then have a crack at the Queen's Silver Jubilee over 1,400m.
"He won it three years ago, but he's mostly been kept to short sprints the past couple of seasons and gives me the impression that going a bit longer now will probably suit him better."
While Lucky Nine misses Sunday's Group One dash, 2014 winner Amber Sky will not and trainer Ricky Yiu Poon-fai confirmed Umberto Rispoli will take the mount as the gelding gets ready for another tilt at the Al Quoz Sprint he won in Dubai last year.
"The vets are happy with the horse, I'm happy and there's no reason not to run. He's 100 per cent again," said Yiu. "Umberto rides him on Sunday, but Joao Moreira will likely be back on him in Dubai.
Rispoli was not sure what to think when the booking was made on Monday, but was happier after learning the Brazilian had switched to Bundle Of Joy after Yiu had not expected Amber Sky to start in the Centenary Sprint.
"Joao has the power to be on a lot of horses, so I wasn't sure why he wouldn't be riding Amber Sky in this race," the Italian said.
"I didn't know the circumstances of why he was on the other horse, but I'm happy to ride Amber Sky and hope that we see on Sunday the horse we know he can be."
"I'm not worried about his last run over 1,200m. We know he is completely different down the straight. I haven't ridden him before but I'd be happy to jump on and get a feel of him before race day if Ricky asks me. If not, it isn't a problem."
