Dragon holds rivals at bay, but he has done it in the past when fresh

The wheel has been around more than once for Soaring Dragon, who made it two from three for John Moore yesterday in the style of a horse on his way up the ladder, but we have seen it before.

When Moore took over Soaring Dragon (Darren Beadman) last December, the gelding broke his maiden first-up with a four-length victory at Sha Tin that spelled progressive.

But it all fell apart next time at Happy Valley, when a heart irregularity - the second episode of his career - saw him finish last in January and he hadn't raced again since.

'Well at least we know he's come back well after all that,' smiled Beadman as Soaring Dragon enjoyed a box-seat trip, then cleared out by 2 1/2 lengths.

'The speed of the race helped him. It wasn't too quick or too slow, just an even tempo, and that allowed him to travel nicely and just roll along with the 133 pounds. I tried to keep him on the bridle as long as possible in the straight but, when I did go for him, he let down really well.'

The win, giving in-form runner-up Matsukaze 15 pounds at the weights, should see Soaring Dragon head into Class Three with strong prospects next time and denied Matsukaze's trainer Ricky Yiu Poon-fai a double on the day.