Rapper Dragon in tip top shape ahead of HK Classic Mile
Two of the biggest names in Hong Kong racing have declared ex-Aussie Rapper Dragon primed for Sunday’s Hong Kong Classic Mile at Sha Tin, to jump at 8.10pm AEST time.
Dominant trainer John Moore and champion jockey Joao Moreira were full of praise for the $3.25 shot (claim with Bet365), after an impressive workout on Friday morning, which allayed any lingering fears after injury forced connections to withdraw it from the International Races in December.
“He was really good this morning, he’s in great shape,” Moore said, after Hong Kong’s top-rated (114) four-year-old had worked home through the final 800m of an all-weather track hit-out in 55.1s (28.6, 26.5).
“Joao came back and said he thought the horse worked very well. He went pretty quick early, he did his best work down the back and then slowed in the straight.”
Rapper Dragon was placed in a group 1 race under the tutelage of Gai Waterhouse, in Australia prior to an impressive first Hong Kong campaign last season, but has had only one start so far this preparation, a fifth in the Class 1 Flying Dancer Handicap, on December 11.
“He kicked the wall and had a bruised foot – that took a little time to get him right again and upset the plan to run in the Group 1 last month,” Moore said.
“He’s right on target for the Derby now though, he’s on the path and everything’s gone to plan since.”
And the handler has no lingering doubts about his rising star’s fitness for Sunday’s first leg of the Classic Series, despite heading in off a one race preparation.
“The way he went this morning, he’s showing me that he’s peaking right now,” he said.
“There’s no concern about his fitness or his wellbeing going into the Classic Mile – he’s very easy to get fit, he’s very clean-winded.”
Last start Rapper Dragon had Hugh Bowman in the saddle, with Moreira riding the winner Blizzard, but the Brazilian is confident it did enough in the race and track work to suggest a full recovery from a bruised foot.
“Rapper Dragon is going extremely well in his track work and, honestly, I think he’s one of the fittest horses at this stage.”
Moore will saddle seven of the 14 runners in the first four-year-old major. Among them, Rodrico will carry the colours of last year’s runner-up and subsequent Hong Kong Derby (2000m) winner, Werther. He will be ridden by Douglas Whyte.
The Australian import, like his esteemed year-older stablemate, was purchased after running second in the G1 Queensland Derby (2400m), in which he was beaten by a horse that is now a Moore stable ally, Eagle Way.
“Rodrico was disappointing last start,” Moore said, of the High Chaparral gelding’s debut 12th at the course and distance earlier this month.
“He drew poorly and was off the track, so forget the run. I expect better this time, although he has a lousy gate in 14.
“He’ll go forward, he did that in the Queensland Derby, he went straight across and ran a great race. So he’ll sit closer.”
The Siu Pak Kwan-owned Eagle Way, on the other hand, followed Werther’s lead in debuting with a win in the mile Class 2 handicap on International day, just as the Horse of the Year had done a year earlier. Tommy Berry will be aboard on Sunday.
“Eagle Way is just starting to hit his straps at a mile, he’ll be doing his best work at the finish,” Moore said.
“He galloped this morning and he gets on the chewy, so he can be ridden closer, he’ll likely be there stalking them in midfield.”