Trainer Tony Millard sent out local champion Ambitious Dragon (NZ) (Pins {Aus}) to win the 2012 G1 Longines Hong Kong Mile and three years on, he looks to add another with the up-and-comer Strathmore (Aus) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}). A winner of five of his 12 starts in Hong Kong, but never of a higher grade than a Class 2, Strathmore encountered trouble in the running in the 1200-meter G2 BOCHK Wealth Management Jockey Club Sprint and could only manage sixth behind the reopposing Gold-Fun (Ire) (Le Vie Dei Colori {GB}) Nov. 21. Millard was undaunted by that performance and believes Strathmore has more to offer.
“It was a brilliant run last time when you consider he was severely interfered with at the start and raced second-last,” said Millard. “Chad [Schofield] couldn't move, he couldn't do anything, he had to just wait behind horses, and he waited until the 150-meter mark before he could even start to ride him. He then rode him and he flew, so it was a brilliant run. With a bit of luck he would have definitely run in to the placings and might have won it.”
Strathmore worked on the all-weather track Monday, getting his final 400 meters in :25.6.
“He's as well, if not better, continued Millard. “He's a young horse, he's a 4-year-old and he's improving, so there's always that scope. Every time he's running he's taking the step up. He did some faster work on Monday and we'll give him one more work on Friday and then he's set. I couldn't be happier with him. He has potential, he has the credentials and he's a horse on the up. He's in the race on merit and anything could happen. There are horses in the race that have been and done it before but are getting on and there are those that have never done it that might run a good race but that you can't see winning it. He's one of those improving horses that might win this race.”
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