Reigning Horse of the Year Ambitious Dragon joined sprinters Joy And Fun and Eagle Regiment yesterday as the first Hong Kong raiders to set out for Dubai.
Tomorrow, Lucky Nine, California Memory and Xtension will complete the six-horse team which promises to be the strongest group yet to campaign under the bauhinia flag at a major foreign meeting.
All but Eagle Regiment and Joy And Fun wound up their preparations on home soil with trials at Sha Tin on Tuesday morning, and all received a positive report card.
'He's spot on, that's just top him off now,' reported Ambitious Dragon's jockey, Douglas Whyte, after a low-pressure second to Sacred Kingdom. 'He came out comfortably and I sat off them. I let him find the line and he let down beautifully.'
Whyte said he didn't foresee issues for Ambitious Dragon racing left-handed for the first time in the Dubai Duty Free (1,800m).
'It's always a slight query but with a horse like him, who is not fazed about much at all I don't see it posing too much of a problem. It's a kind turn, not a turn he's got to go into and spin around,' Whyte said. 'It looks an uncomplicated 1,800m, fingers crossed we get a half decent alley and have a nice trip around. I'm sure you'll see him letting down as we all know Ambitious can.'
