Ambitious Dragon returns

23 October 2014

Two-time Hong Kong Horse of the Year Ambitious Dragon makes a return to racing in a competitive field for the HK$3.875 million HK-2 Oriental Watch Sha Tin Trophy (1600m) at Sha Tin on Sunday.

Having not raced in 18 months, Ambitious Dragon will take on reigning champion Designs On Rome and the horse he deposed, Military Attack.

“Ambitious Dragon hasn’t raced for a long time but he’s working well – he’s done everything right,” said the eight-year-old’s trainer, Tony Millard, who has nursed the 2012 Longines Hong Kong Mile victor back to fitness from a near-fore tendon injury.

The former champion stretched out to win a turf barrier trial over 1000m on October 7 under Sunday’s pilot Gerald Mosse.

“His trial was okay, you just have to take into account that he’s been out for a long time so I hope he gives us a nice run,” Millard said.

“You have to respect the opposition, they’re good horses, there are some nice young horses in there and they’re fitter. He’s as well as I can have him right now.”

NZ RACING DESK

Tivaci’s Movie Night steals the show at Newcastle

A sister to the Gr.1 ATC Flight Stakes (1600m) winner Never Been Kissed, the Waikato Stud-bred and raced Movie Night (NZ) was rewarded for her consistency, breaking her maiden with an all-the-way win over 1400m at Newcastle for trainer Tom Charlton.

9 July 2026

Oilman’s stud stake could change course of NZ breeding

Eighteen months ago, Texas oilman Nelson Bunker Hunt walked through the lush Waikato pasture of Matamata’s Balcarres Stud and announced he wanted some just like it for his own.

Today he has-360 acres about a mile down the road which has been transformed from a dairy farm to one of New Zealand’s leading horse and cattle breeding establishments.