Trainer Tony Millard has called on the world's hottest jockey Ryan Moore, who will replace Gerald Mosse on Ambitious Dragon when the two-time Horse of the Year lines up in next month's Hong Kong Mile.
Moore will cap a remarkable year by riding the eight-year-old in the HK$23 million race, and will also ride Millard's Golden Harvest in the Hong Kong Sprint.
"When you get the chance to book a rider like Ryan, you have to jump at it," Millard said. "Especially with a horse like 'Dragon', it's been a long path to get him back to the races from injury and you have to treat every run like it might be his last. We can't have any wasted opportunities."
Millard said it wasn't a case of sacking Mosse, even though the trainer was mildly critical of the Frenchman's ride in the Group Two Jockey Club Mile last Sunday: "It was just taking an opportunity to get Ryan Moore, that is all."
Ambitious Dragon has won seven Group Ones and more than HK$58million in prizemoney in a glittering career, but spent nearly 18 months sidelined with a tendon injury before returning with two third placings in Group Two races this season.
Moore becomes the eighth jockey to ride Ambitious Dragon in a 28-start career after Jacky Tong Chi-kit, Weichong Marwing, Maxime Guyon, Douglas Whyte, Umberto Rispoli, Zac Purton and Mosse.
