Ready to Run Sale graduate Speed Dragon (NZ) (Darci Brahma) delivered a milestone moment for his trainer Francis Lui with a spectacular come-from-behind victory in the A$4.2m Group Three January Cup (1800m) at Happy Valley on Wednesday.
Speed Dragon, who was passed in at the 2021 Ready to Run Sale, has now had 16 starts in Hong Kong for four wins, a placing and HK$9.8m in stakes – the equivalent of more than NZ$2.1m, which is over 10 times his reserve at the Ready to Run Sale.
The six-year-old’s stunning finish from the back of the 12-horse field in Wednesday’s January Sprint brought up 1000 wins in Hong Kong for Lui, who became only the sixth trainer to ever reach that milestone in Hong Kong.
Lui identified the 10-time Group One-winning Ready to Run Sale graduate Golden Sixty (Medaglia d’Oro) as an obvious career highlight.
“I feel very happy,” he said. “It’s a big number and it’s not easy. Golden Sixty is special, but every winner to me is very important and for the owners.”
Speed Dragon was ridden to his half-length January Cup success by Lyle Hewitson, who was hugely impressed by his mount’s turn of foot.
“I’m really happy that I could get it done,” he said. “I’ve been touched off in a few Group races and most of them were for Francis too, so to get the nose in front in such good fashion tonight, I’m thoroughly enjoying it.
“I got shuffled back to last on the turn but thankfully that was the section where they picked up the speed and I got a track into it and he quickened so well. I had to wait for the gap, and before it had any chance to close, he was through and he won with authority.
“So it was full of merit and he’s a horse that is just thriving here.”
Speed Dragon was bred by The Oaks Stud. He was offered by Kiltannon Stables at the 2021 Ready to Run Sale but failed to meet his reserve.
Initially named Keenasabean and retained to race in The Oaks Stud’s white and blue colours, he was a maiden winner at Te Rapa in December 2022 and ran fourth in the Group Two Auckland Guineas (1600m) behind subsequent multiple Group One winners Prowess (NZ) (Proisir) and Waitak (NZ) (Proisir).
| Vendor | Kiltannon Stables Ltd |
|---|---|
| Purchaser | |
| Breeding | Darci Brahma – Keenly |
| Sale | Lot 159, 2021 Ready to Run Sale, Psd (Res $150,000) |
| Breeder | The Oaks Stud |
| Owner | Peter Chu Ka Lok |
