Ambitious Dragon Misses Hong Kong Mile

An up-then-down, then up again week for the connections of Ambitious Dragon (NZ) (Pins {Aus}) ended on a sour note Sunday morning when the 8-year-old, winner of the 2012 G1 Hong Kong Mile, failed to pass the vet and was declared from the race.

“In the end, the vet didn’t have to make the call – we withdrew him,” trainer Tony Millard told South China Morning Post. “It’s been a roller-coaster ride and if the race had been run [Saturday], he could have run, but he’s too precious to risk and we knew he had to come out.”

Ambitious Dragon, third to Able Friend (Aus) (Shamardal) in the G2 Jockey Club Mile Nov. 23, turned in his last serious piece of work for the International Races this past Monday, but news emerged Tuesday that he was lame in his right front foot owing to a suspected infection. The gelding was able to resume training later in the week and as late as Saturday, Millard expressed confidence that his charge could regain full fitness. But despite some 11th-hour work, Ambitious Dragon remained unsound and was pronounced unfit to race by HKJC stewards.

“Even when we changed the shoe this morning, he didn’t like it at first so we fitted him with a special bar shoe,” Millard told SCMP. “I couldn’t believe it, he trotted up sound and we were thrilled, but they turned him around and he was lame.”

The situation was reminiscent of that in the day–in fact, hours–leading up to the 2012 Mile. Millard and his staff worked through the night to get Ambitious Dragon sufficiently over a tendon issue. He passed the vet on that occasion and carried Zac Purton to 3/4-length defeat of Glorious Days (Aus) (Hussonet).

“We have moved heaven and earth to get him there and I can’t be more humbled and proud of the people that have worked on the horse this week,” Millard told the Post.

Assuming he gets past the foot issue in good order, Ambitious Dragon could take in the Stewards’ Cup over 1600 meters in January, Millard told the publication.

In related news, G1 Hong Kong Cup hopeful Cirrus des Aigles (Fr) (Even Top {Ire}), who exhibited some tenderness in a front foot during a routine exam Saturday, was green-lighted for a start. He was to be monitored during the course of the day Sunday.