Half-brother to Ambitious Dragon (NZ) at Karaka 2012

Half-brother to Ambitious Dragon (NZ) at Karaka 2012

Last night's HK-1 Stewards' Cup has seen 'the return of the dragon', with Hong Kong's reigning Horse of the Year Ambitious Dragon (NZ) putting in a dominant performance to take his ninth race win.

One of four New Zealand bred winners at the Sha Tin Meeting, the Tony Millard trained Ambitious Dragon (Pins x Golden Gamble) came into the first leg of Hong Kong's Triple Crown with questions over his form but the son of Pins was quick to relinquish any doubt over his ability.

Racing wide with no cover, the tough trip did little to dampen Ambitious Dragon's finish as he strode to the lead with champion jockey Douglas Whyte sitting quietly, holding his rivals with ease to go to the post a length-and-a-quarter clear of the field.

Millard was impressed with the victory and was pleased to see the horse back in winning form.

"He's back from that bad experience, that's the main thing," said Millard. "I was a bit more confident today. Going into the Hong Kong Cup we didn't have a good run-in; he had a bad prep and going into the International race was just too hard."

Ambitious Dragon will now head to the second leg of the Hong Kong Triple Crown, the HK-1 Hong Kong Gold Cup over 2000 metres.

"I'm not somebody who puts the cart in front of the horse," continued Millard, "but we will definitely go for the 2000 metres and then we will decide what we are going to do, but we are definitely going race by race.

"I don't think the mile and a half (of the HK-1 Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup - the third leg of the Triple Crown) will be a problem the way this horse can turn it on. Even today, I thought that Douglas could have gone a little bit later; he has a phenomenal turn of foot."

Bred by Mr Pat Lowry, Ambitious Dragon was offered by Belvedere Farm at New Zealand Bloodstock's 2008 Karaka Select Sale and has now won nine of his 16 career starts.

Karaka 2012 will offer a half-brother to Ambitious Dragon by champion New Zealand sire Thorn Park at Lot 222 from Belvedere Farm.

The 2010 Ready to Run Sale topper Wah May Star (Fusaichi Pegasus x Skates) was also in winning form at Sha Tin last night. Purchased for $340,000, the three-year-old has put together back-to-back victories on the track, taking his record to three wins and two placings from six starts.

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