Able Friend's spectacular last-to-first Premier Bowl win at Sha Tin might have impacted on Hong Kong's sprinters yesterday in the short term but it is the Longines Hong Kong Mile that might feel the greatest hit from the champion in the end.

Super-sub jockey Karis Teetan took his record to three wins in four rides on Able Friend when Joao Moreira elected to partner specialist sprinter Peniaphobia, taking advantage of a hellish pace to prove too strong as the quick ones felt the pinch.

GALLERY: Kenneth Chan's photos of all races at the Oriental Watch Sha Tin Trophy raceday on Sunday.

"I did say before the race to never underestimate the big boy - he is the best horse around and I said he could just go there and beat them all because of his quality and class. Still, I was surprised at the way he just shot past us," said Moreira, who is booked to return to Able Friend's back from here on in.

Punters who stuck with Able Friend were thrilled by their double figure odds and the brilliant performance, but the win will no doubt have a say in how seriously connections of foreign milers will view a trip to contest the Hong Kong Mile.

Able Friend's flop at Royal Ascot made him look flesh and blood after all and left the door open for the HK$23 million race in December, but yesterday's victory slammed it shut again for potential visitors.

After a setback in training last year, Able Friend could finish only fourth in the same race, but trainer John Moore said the gelding's training setback at a similar time in early September this season had not been as serious.

"The soundness issue was different this time and we got his hindquarters right pretty quickly with some work from the chiropractor and the vet," Moore said.

"I was able to give him a bit more work and maintain a good weight with him and you have seen the result today. Maybe he can't take his form on the road and obviously his defeat at Royal Ascot was a disappointment but when you see him do that, it shows he is world champion quality here - let the others come and take us on."

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Moore also saddled up three other runners, including fourth-placed Charles The Great and well-backed second favourite Not Listenin'tome, who finished sixth after a tough wide run.

"Not Listenin'tome needed some luck from the draw which he didn't get so that's a forgive run," said Moore. "Of course, there's better to come from some of those other sprinters in the race too but from Able Friend's point of view, winning so facile like that just shows the world that he is an out and out champion. I can get him a little bit fitter than that for international day too."

Richard Gibson's Gold-Fun had the race shot to pieces at the 100m before Able Friend mowed him down near the line while third-placed Peniaphobia still had improvement to come according to Moreira: "I had to push him to get up there then tried to get him to relax. He still isn't 100 per cent."

Aerovelocity was the first horse beaten but had excuses after he was found to have a heart irregularity and some blood in his throat, while Lucky Nine battled bravely for fifth but was feeling the ground.

"He still tries so hard but he's getting his head up and not really stretching out on this sort of unforgiving ground," said jockey Brett Prebble.