Ambitious Dragon (NZ) Stars in G1 Hong Kong Mile

Hong Kong’s reigning dual Horse of the Year – the Karaka Select Sale graduate Ambitious Dragon (NZ) – produced the performance of his amazing career last night to lead home a NZB quinella in the Group 1 Hong Kong Mile at Sha Tin.

Crowned Hong Kong’s Horse of the Year for the second year running in 2012, as well as taking the Champion Miler and Middle-Distance Awards, Ambitious Dragon showed why he is considered one of the best in Hong Kong with a stunning performance in last night’s Group 1 race.

Karaka graduates Ambitious Dragon & Glorious Days quinella the Group 1 Hong Kong Mile. Photo courtesy of the HKJC.

Third to last in transit, Ambitious Dragon spotted the leaders many lengths as he was brought widest around the turn by jockey Zac Purton, and he had most of the field in front of him at the top of the straight, including fellow Karaka graduate Glorious Days who had surged to the front.

But in an amazing effort from the six-year-old son of Pins, he produced that electric turn of foot and stormed home from the back of the field, getting the better of Glorious Days in the last 100 metres to land his second international Group 1 race by a three-quarter length.

Showcasing a remarkable run of success for the Karaka Select Sale, graduates of that Sale have won the last three Group 1 Hong Kong Miles in a row, with Beauty Flash (NZ) (Golan) in 2010, Able One (NZ) (Cape Cross) in 2011, and now the Tony Millard trained Ambitious Dragon (NZ) (Pins x Golden Gamble). He is also the fourth Group 1 winner for the Select Sale this season alone.

New Zealand Bloodstock’s 2013 Karaka Premier Sale features a half-brother to Ambitious Dragon by the four-time Group 1 winning sire Mastercraftsman from the draft of Belvedere Farm at Lot 164. 

Trainer Tony Millard was thrilled with Sunday’s victory and paid Ambitious Dragon the ultimate compliment.

“He's just a super champion and he can win over any distance,” commented Millard. “When I saw him picking them up I thought I hope he does not flatten out but they had gone a good lick so they were stopping.”

Millard also reflected on just how close Ambitious Dragon came to missing the Hong Kong Mile as the horse was lame on Saturday and in serious doubt of contesting the race.

“The last 24 hours were trying and I really must thank my staff,” said Millard. “Up to 11pm last night they were still walking the horse and we brought him out this morning and he seemed to improve every hour. It is a great reflection on the horse that he is.”

Ambitious Dragon. Photo courtesy of the HKJC.

Second placed Glorious Days (Hussonet x San Century) completed the quinella for Karaka with a brave performance. He beat Ambitious Dragon at their last start in the Group 2 Jockey Club Mile and he adds another international Group 1 placing to his name after running second in the Group 1 Champions Mile to Lucky Nine earlier this year.

New Zealand bred horses have now won the Hong Kong Mile five times since 2000 – more than any other country – with the mighty Sunline (NZ) (Desert Sun) in 2000, Lucky Owners (NZ) (Danehill) in 2003, Beauty Flash (NZ) (Golan) in 2010, Able One (NZ) (Cape Cross) in 2011 and now Ambitious Dragon.

Bred by Pat Lowry, Ambitious Dragon was offered by Belvedere Farm at New Zealand Bloodstock’s 2008 Karaka Select Sale.

Now raced by Johnson Lam Pui Hung & Anderson Lam Hin Yue, last night’s win took his stakes earning to $6.4 million, with 11 wins coming from his 22 starts.

A half-brother to Ambitious Dragon by High Chaparral was purchased by the Hong Kong Jockey Club from Belvedere Farm at the 2011 Karaka Premier Sale for NZ$420,000. He was offered for sale at Hong Kong’s December International Sale on Saturday and was purchased by Wong Kwok Kin for HK$3.8 million (NZ$590,000) and is reportedly to be trained by Ricky Yui.

New Zealand bred horses won another two races on the international card at the HKJC’s star-studded meeting last night. The David Hall trained Solar Great (NZ) (Falkirk) made it three from three for the season with a one-and-three-quarter length win in the HK$950K Class 3 Paris Handicap in the opening race of the meeting.

The John Size trained five-year-old Real Specialist (NZ) (Storming Home) then capped off a great night for the kiwis when winning the ninth race on the 10-race card by a head – the HK$2 million Class 1 Canberra Handicap (1400m) – his second consecutive victory of the season.

Real Specialist was purchased by Waikato Bloodstock from Curraghmore Stud at New Zealand Bloodstock’s 2009 Karaka Select Sale for $90,000 and looks a future Group horse in Hong Kong having won seven of his 13 race starts.