Rapper Dragon draws perfectly for Sunday’s Hong Kong Derby
CURRENT favourite Rapper Dragon has drawn perfectly for Sunday’s Group 1 Hong Kong Derby, but not all of John Moore’s team received the same benefit.
Rapper Dragon is currently -111.11 at Bet365.com to win the final leg of the Hong Kong Four-Year-Old Classic and getting barrier four has done nothing to hurt its chances at Sha Tin.
“The owner of Rapper Dragon asked me what gate I wanted, I said four to six,” Moore said. “He got four, it couldn’t be better for him.
“We all know Rapper Dragon has the early gate speed, he’s going to get a great position and he’s going to be given every chance from there.”
Moore also lines up Rodrico, Booming Delight, Eagle Way, Beauty Generation and Helene Paragon – with the best draw coming with Rodrico in barrier seven.
“It’s mixed feelings,” Moore said. “Some are a little on the wide side, although for some of them, it doesn’t matter.
“A horse like Eagle Way, he settled midfield from a similar gate in the Queensland Derby and came home strong. Helene Charisma, he will be going back anyway and he will appreciate further, as will Rodrico.”
Rodrico was a natural front runner in Australia and along with stablemate Beauty Generation, the two will likely set a perfect speed for Rapper Dragon to come off their backs.
“Rodrico will probably push forward from the middle of the pack, he did that in Australia. We won’t be going as far forward on Beauty Generation, though, he got engaged in a speed duel last time and it didn’t work,” Moore said.
“From 12, I’d expect Zac (Purton) will be midfield, one or two off the fence, and waiting for the mid-race swoop that tends to come down the back straight each year.”
Tony Cruz also has a multiple threat with Gold Mount, Circuit Hassler and the highly-touted Pakistan Star, which won’t mind the wide barrier of 13 as it comes from the back.
“Gold Mount is smack in the middle in gate eight, so he has a good chance, I’m happy with that,” Cruz said.
“Pakistan Star, he’s got no speed from the gate, so where can we go with him? He’ll come from behind, so 13 is not a problem. We’ll drop in with him and he’ll run on. He’ll run the way he always likes to. We tried to ride him handier that once in the Classic Mile and he didn’t even finish off his race.
“The distance, 2000 metres, will suit him better this time, too.
“As for Circuit Hassler, I don’t think he will be leading the race; he’ll be handier, but not leading.”
John Size is another dominant Hong Kong-based trainer and he lines up Dinozzo, Prawn Baba and My Darling in the Hong Kong Derby.
All three have drawn inside barrier six and Size is happy with the outcome.
“They’ve all drawn well, towards the inside,” Size said. “Hopefully the inside is a fair spot to be.
“It’s suitable for all of those horses, anyway. There doesn’t seem to be a lot of speed in the race or pressure so if My Darling doesn’t lead the race, he’ll be very close to it from there.”
2017 Hong Kong Derby betting
[rmOC_events_list event_ids=1130909_08]