Racing: Versatile champ leaves mark on racing history

ON PARADE: Trainer Guy Lowry, wife Brigid and their children Libby (left), 9, Pippa, 6, and Charlie, 11, build a rapport with champion gelding Ambitious Dragon. PHOTO/Duncan Brown

Ambitious Dragon is part of Hong Kong racing folklore.

The 2011 and 2012 Hong Kong Horse of the Year was named champion miler twice as well as two-time champion middle-distance exponent.

The versatile 9-year-old Hawke's Bay-bred gelding ended his career with a record of 13 wins from 30 starts, pocketing his owners HK$58,722,850 as the sixth-highest earner in the former British colony's history.

In a racing career which began in 2010, the Johnson Lam Pui Hung and Anderson Lam Him Yue-owned horse won 11 races at Sha Tin Racecourse including the Hong Kong Mile, Hong Kong Classic Cup, Hong Kong Derby, Queen Elizabeth II Cup, Hong Kong Stewards' Cup and the Hong Kong Gold Cup.

Under the guidance of trainer Tony Millard, of South Africa, the son of Pins clinched a host of big-time races at Sha Tin, notably group I wins in the 2011 Audemars Piguet Queen Elizabeth II Cup and the 2012 Longines Hong Kong Mile.

Ambitious Dragon secured a further five wins at the group one level, including the 2011 Hong Kong Derby.

What was remarkable about Ambitious Dragon was his versatility.

He stamped his authority anywhere from 1400m to 2000m although he left the racing savvy wondering if he could have been just as adroit over 1200m.

Seven jockeys rode the gelding throughout his career.