Trainer Michael Chang Chun-wai's Rich Tapestry resumed after a recent health issue to stay on genuinely for second in the Class Two Dublin Handicap (1,200m) at Sha Tin and looks ready to reach new heights.
Rich Tapestry took his time to find his rhythm last term after arriving off a mark of 85 from Britain, but turned the jets on when Chang switched him to sprinting and after a gelding operation to finish fourth to Keen Marie over 1,200m and two the all-weather track wins in May and July.
The Irish-bred four-year-old resumed in September to finish a neck second to Mentor at 10-1 under the guidance of Olivier Doleuze before failing as the favourite in early October with substantial blood in his trachea.
Following some solid workouts and a trial win, Rich Tapestry stepped out on Sunday from gate 11 with Doleuze aboard. He went forward to sit outside of Fionn's Treasure at the 900m with swift sectionals of 23.64 (first 400m), assumed the front 350m out and only found the final 22.22-second burst of Frederick Engels too good in the final 50m.
Rich Tapestry has come in to his own on both surfaces at Sha Tin and his pedigree indicates a return to the city venue will be ideal now.
His sire, Holy Roman Emperor, was a Group One winning sprinter in Ireland and France and has fathered up-and-coming Little Cow at Sha Tin, but has been most effective dishing out city course specialists in Legendary Dragon, Imperial Rome, Charles The Great and Mr Award.
Out of a Saddler's Wells dam that was placed up to 2,400m and produced another foal that was successful at a mile, Rich Tapestry may also be ready to tackle 1.400m or a mile as well.
