By Alan Carasso
Backing up on three weeks' rest since becoming the first horse ever to sweep the Hong Kong 4-year-old series, Rapper Dragon cut back in trip to face the jurisdiction's best milers and duly obliged with a cosy defeat of 2016 G1 Longines Hong Kong Mile hero Beauty Only in Sunday's G2 Chairman's Trophy. The race serves as a prep for the G1 Champions Mile over track and trip May 7.
The start of the Chairman's Trophy was delayed by a few minutes when Limitless (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) spread a plate and was ultimately scratched, but once reloaded, Rapper Dragon jumped alertly and was put into the race immediately by Joao Moreira to be close-up from third as Contentment (Aus) (Hussonet) was able to secure the front while tracked along by the longer-winded Blazing Speed (GB) (Dylan Thomas {Ire}). Two of Rapper Dragon's fellow former Derby winners Werther (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) and Designs on Rome (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) raced towards the back of the pack along with Beauty Only. Sensing a move from longshot Horse of Fortune (Saf) (Stronghold {GB}), Moreira tipped off cover and into the three path and was laying down his challenge already at the 400m. Beauty Only, who brushed with Werther at the top of the lane, was beginning to find his best stride and emerged as the sole threat from behind. Rapper Dragon, still green despite his accomplishments, carried out Beauty Only a path or two in the final furlong, then drifted back down towards the inside, but had done enough as the wire arrived in time. Beauty Only, giving five pounds to the winner, was a came second ahead of Circuit Land.
“He went through the race beautifully,” Moreira said. “He had lovely cover and I just pulled him out a little bit early because I knew there would be some early moves and I wanted to make sure I gave him a clear run.
“He was always going to hold the second,” Moreira added. “Unfortunately, I had him snaking around underneath me in the straight–he's still very immature. I think there's more improvement to come and now it's up to Mr. Moore to help him go to that extra level that I believe is there to go for.”
Pedigree Notes:
Much of Rapper Dragon's female family was offered by Eduardo Cojuangco's Gooree Park Stud and performed well at the 2015 Magic Millions National Broodmare and Weanling Sale. The winner's dam was purchased by Michael Wallace for A$360,000 in foal to Congrats (catalogue page) and produced a colt by that successful dual-hemisphere stallion in August 2015. He was recently purchased by KS Research for A$110,000 from the Newgate Farm consignment at the Gold Coast Yearling Sale. Rapper Dragon's half-sister Swing Sensation (Aus) (Northern Meteor {Aus}) fetched A$330,000 from Rosemont Stud/Blue Sky Bloodstock, while Swing Vote, sent through the ring on an October cover by Smart Missile (Aus), realized A$360,000 from Neil Jenkinson Bloodstock. That produce, a filly (lot 381), was purchased by Luskin Park for A$160,000 at last week's Inglis Easter Yearling Sale. Rapper Dragon's half-sister by Your Song (Aus) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) was subsequently knocked down to Canning Downs for A$150,000, while Amanpour (Aus) (Northern Meteor {Aus}), a half-sister to Swing Dance and winner of the G1 Queen of the Turf S., was the second-highest priced lot at the 2015 Broodmare Sale. Then four, she was hammered down to the Rosemont/Blue Sky team for A$1.5 million. The dam of a weanling colt by Newgate's Deep Field (Aus) (Northern Meteor {Aus}), Swing Dance was most recently bred back to Street Boss.
Sunday, Sha Tin, Hong Kong
CHAIRMAN'S TROPHY, HK$4,000,000, Sha Tin, 4-9, 3yo/up, 1600mT, 1:33.74, gd.
1–#@RAPPER DRAGON (AUS), 123, g, 4, by Street Boss
1st Dam: Swing Dance (Aus), by Danehill Dancer (Ire)
2nd Dam: Newscaster (Aus), by Marscay (Aus)
3rd Dam: Stormy Dream, by Storm Cat
O-Albert Hung; B-E Cojuangco (NSW); T-John Moore; J-Joao Moreira; HK$2,280,000. Lifetime Record: G1SP-Aus, 17-9-3-0, HK$31,185,000. *Formerly Street Rapper (Aus). **1/2 to Swing Vote (Aus) (Northern Meteor {Aus}), SP-Aus. Werk Nick Rating: A+++. *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Beauty Only (Ire), 128, g, 6, Holy Roman Emperor (Ire)–Goldendale (Ire), by Ali-Royal (Ire). (€72,000 Ylg '12 ITYSEP). O-Eleanor Kwok Law Kwai Chung & Patrick Kwok Ho Chuen; B-Massimo Parri; T-Tony Cruz; HK$880,000.
3–Circuit Land, 123, g, 6, Mizzen Mast–Storm Dove, by Storm Bird. (80,000gns HRA '14 TATOCT). O-Ngo Tai Tak; B-Juddmonte Farms Inc; T-Danny Shum; HK$460,000.
Margins: HF, 2 1/4, NK. Odds: 3-5, 53-10, 61-1.
Also Ran: Werther (NZ), Blazing Speed (GB), Contentment (Aus), Helene Paragon (Fr), Designs on Rome (Ire), Horse of Fortune (SAf). Scratched: Limitless (Ire).
Click for the HKJC.com chart, sectional timing, PPs and VIDEO. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
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