Trainer Tony Millard firmly believes his horse Ambitious Dragon is the best galloper in Hong Kong and one of the world’s better middle distance performers.
He also believes Ambitious Dragon could be running for only a minor placing in Sunday’s Group One Champions Mile at Sha Tin.
Ambitious Dragon produced one of the worst performances of his career at his latest start when seventh to Cityscape in the Dubai Duty Free at Meydan on World Cup night.
Although there may have been some excuses for the performance, Millard developed the utmost respect for the winner who is again the horse everyone has to beat on Sunday.
“Cityscape will be very difficult to beat on Sunday. He has such a high cruising speed, he goes 1800 metres and he can sit on the speed,” Millard said.
“He was so impressive over 1800 (metres) last time and if he runs up to that Dubai form, and if he’s allowed to dictate, we’re running for places.”
The English-trained Cityscape is the favourite with British bookmakers on the strength of his 4-1/4 length win in the Duty Free but Ambitious Dragon is the likely opening favourite on the Hong Kong tote.
For Melbourne’s premier trainer Peter Moody, the Champions Mile will provide at the very least, a useful guide to the future international prospects of his mare King’s Rose, and at best a breakthrough international success.
Moody will use the Sha Tin race to assess King’s Rose for a trip to Royal Ascot next month where she would join celebrated stablemate Black Caviar.
“King’s Rose isn’t here for practice,” Moody said.
“My belief is that she can win. My expectation is that, at least, she’ll be running very well.
“She’s in great shape and I think her form is good enough.”
King’s Rose has won eight of her 20 career starts and boasts three wins and two seconds from five runs at 1600 metres.
“She’s a great miler, this is her distance but she’s also capable over further,” he trainer said.
“I still swear and declare that but for bad luck she should have won last year’s Cox Plate.”
Something of a one-horse multi-national, King’s Rose was bred in New Zealand where she began her racing career, was transferred to Moody in Melbourne last year and is owned by Hong Kong doctor Gene Tsoi.
Moody said King’s Rose needed only to run well on Sunday to be set for the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot on June 19.
