By Alan Carasso
Making his first foray into stakes company since his arrival into Hong Kong last summer, Rapper Dragon (Aus) (Street Boss) continued his upward trajectory in the inaugural Lion Rock Trophy H., stamping himself as one of the early favorites for next year's Hong Kong Derby.
Group 1-placed in Australia while trained by Gai Waterhouse, Rapper Dragon took out a Class 2 Feb. 20, but chestnut couldn't quite overcome a tough trip when second on the Derby Day undercard Mar. 20. He returned eight days later to clear that hurdle when stretched to this distance and was exiting a facile victory over Romantic Touch (Aus) (Northern Meteor {Aus}) in his Class 1 debut Apr. 16. Receiving loads of weight from some classy rivals, Rapper Dragon capitalized and came through as the favorite.
Away neatly from gate one, Rapper Dragon was handy for Joao Moreira one off the fence as Top Act (NZ) (O'Reilly {NZ}) revved up outside to lead from joint highweight Beauty Flame (Ire) (Footstepsinthesand {GB}). Going well inside on the turn, Rapper Dragon came out four wide leaving the home corner, descended on the leaders and pulled clear with a fair bit of authority as the reliable barometer Beauty Only closed off well under his hefty burden. The win was the 146th of the season for Moreira, breaking the mark he set just last year, with 11 racing dates still to come.
“I knew I was going to get there, it was just a matter of time and fortunately it came today,” said the Brazilian. “The feeling is amazing because it's not just about me, without the support of everyone who has supported me I wouldn't have been able to make it.”
Of the winner, he added, ““He's a horse that helps the jockey and he's a horse I have a lot of faith in–I think he's going to be a Group 1 winner. I say that to the trainer and I'm not scared of saying that to the press. He gives me that feeling.”
Trainer John Moore saddled 2016 Derby winner Werther (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) and his chances for next year's race are to be enhanced by the addition of G1 Rosehill Guineas runner-up Montaigne (NZ) (Road to Rock {Aus}). The conditioner said Rapper Dragon is done for the season and will gear up for a Derby prep beginning this fall.
Much of Rapper Dragon's 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 last Aug. 30. Rapper Dragon's half-sister Swing Sensation (Aus) (Northern Meteor {Aus}) fetched A$330,000 from Rosemont Stud/Blue Sky Bloodstock (FBAA), while Swing Vote, sent through the ring on an October cover by Smart Missile (Aus), realized A$360,000 from Neil Jenkinson Bloodstock. Rapper Dragon's weanling 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 last year's Broodmare Sale. Then four, she was hammered down to the Rosemont/Blue Sky team for A$1.5 million.
Click for the HKJC.com chart, PPs and VIDEO.
Sunday, Sha Tin, Hong Kong
LION ROCK TROPHY H., HK$3,000,000 (£264,109/€347,574/A$537,577/US$386,259), 3yo/up, 1600mT, 1:33.87, gd.
1–#RAPPER DRAGON (AUS), 117, g, 3, Street Boss–Swing Dance (Aus), by Danehill Dancer (Ire). O-Albert Hung Chao Hong; B-E Cojuangco (NSW); T-John Moore; J-Joao Moreira; HK$1,710,000. Lifetime Record: G1SP-Aus, 12-5-3-0, HK$7,164,500. *Formerly Street Rapper (Aus). **1/2 to Swing Vote (Aus) (Northern Meteor {Aus}), SP-Aus.
2–Beauty Only (Ire), 133, g, 5, Holy Roman Emperor (Ire)–Goldendale (Ire), by Ali-Royal (Ire). (€72,000 Ylg '12 ITYSEP). O-Eleanor & Patrick Kwok. HK$660,000.
3–Secret Weapon (GB), 125, g, 6, Choisir (Aus)–Just Devine (Ire), by Montjeu (Ire). O-Leung Lun Ping. HK$345,000.
Margins: 1 1/4, 3/4, 1. Odds: 6-5, 13-2, 9-1.
Also Ran: Beauty Flame (Ire), Top Act (NZ), Gun Pit (Aus), Flame Hero (NZ), Romantic Touch (Aus), Rewarding Hero (GB), Helene Paragon (Fr), Dundonnell. Scratched: Multivictory (NZ).
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