Ambitious Dragon is one to beat - Guyon

Brilliant French rider Maxime Guyon landed his first local Group One on the back of Ambitious Dragon's electrifying finishing burst yesterday in the Mercedes-Benz Classic Cup - then declared the horse all but over the line for the Hong Kong Derby next month.

In just five previous runnings of the 1,800m Derby lead-up, no horse has done the double, yet Guyon was adamant Ambitious Dragon could be the first after he covered ground in the moderately run race, then simply outran his high-class rivals when it mattered.

'If things follow the same as today, he should win the Derby - he is a very good horse,' said Guyon post-race. 'Yes, the pace was slow and he has a fantastic acceleration but I think he will still have that acceleration in the Derby going another 200m. He has a very good temperament and relaxes so well and whatever the pace, he will still have that turn of foot.'

It was the sixth Group One win for Guyon in his burgeoning career but broke a long drought at the top level for trainer Tony Millard, with the trainer's last Group race success a decade ago in the Juvenile Sprint Trophy and his last Group One the Derby itself 11 years ago with Keen Winner.

But every dog has his day and the trainer roared back into the top grade as Ambitious Dragon stamped himself as the clear Derby favourite yesterday, leaving no excuse for runner-up Lucky Nine as he put almost two lengths on him at the post, despite the 29 handicap rating points between them beforehand.

'The horses don't know their rating, they just know if they are well and he was very well,' said a delighted Millard. 'The Derby has been the plan with this horse from the first day he came to me. I liked what I saw then and he has kept improving.'