Rapper Dragon cemented his Group I BMW Hong Kong Derby claims and raised the prospect of a first ever Four-Year-Old Classic Series clean sweep with an authoritative victory in the 1800 metre feature.
John Moore's charge added to last month's impressive Hong Kong Classic Mile
success with a smooth length and a half win under Joao Moreira. The
Australian-bred held the late, wide-track charge of Pakistan Star to join fellow
Aussie breds Floral Pegasus (2007) and Sun Jewellery (2016) as only the third
horse to have claimed the series' first two legs."The way he won today was pretty much the same as the first leg," Moreira said after Rapper Dragon had clocked 1m 46.98s for the 1800m feature, the fastest at the course and distance this season and a race record too.
The manner of Rapper Dragon's triumph had jockey and trainer brimming with confidence post-race, both believing that the chestnut can clean up with a historic BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m) win on 19 March.
"He's pretty smart, he relaxed nicely in the race and that indicates that he's going to handle the Derby distance, so I think I've got the best horse," Moreira said, adding, "I think he's pretty close to the best horses I've ridden. Winning on him today again was pretty special."
John Moore was also thrilled with the performance.
"He's a very good horse, I'd said that before, and we had no doubts about him getting the extra 200 metres today, he drew the gun gate (4)," Moore said. "There was quite a lot of speed early, which was a big surprise, but he was the top-rated horse (114).
"We're going into the Derby full of confidence and now we just hope the owner can pull a good draw in the Derby and I think he'd be repeating. He's definitely the horse to beat. He's going to be joining the elite brigade in Hong Kong."
Bred by the late Henry Cojuangco at Gooree Stud, Rapper Dragon joined the John Moore stable after beginning his career with Gai Waterhouse.
Rapper Dragon showed good ability in a five start juvenile campaign for Waterhouse that yielded a win at Wyong and seconds in the Group I ATC Champagne Stakes to Pasadena Girl and Group III ATC Schweppervescence Quality to Takedown.
Rapper Dragon has the overall record of seven wins and three placings from 15 starts.
A half-brother to stakes-placed Swing Vote, he is the best of three winners from Danehill Dancer (IRE) mare Swing Dance, a sibling to Group I winner Amanpour and stakes-winners Turf Express and Sports Edition.
Swing Dance was sold in the dispersal of Henry Cojuangco's stock at the 2015 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale when bought by Michael Wallace Bloodstock for $360,000.
She is now at Newgate Farm, who sold her current yearling, a colt by Congrats (USA) at Magic Millions for $110,000 to KS Research.
Swing Dance produced a colt by Deep Field last spring and is now in foal to Rapper Dragon's Darley based sire Street Boss.
