The script hadn't gone exactly to plan for Rapper Dragon (Aus) (Street Boss), Hong Kong's top-rated 4-year-old by a margin. The handsome chestnut had been ticketed for a start in the international races last month, an atypical approach for a horse with 'Classic' aspirations, but understandable, given that his biggest win to date had come over Beauty Only (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}), subsequent winner of the G1 Longines Hong Kong Mile. An October injury translated into a belated start to the season, but it looks like nothing but blue skies ahead following a thoroughly dominating victory in Sunday's Hong Kong Classic Mile.
Raced in Australia as Street Rapper and trained by Gai Waterhouse, Rapper Dragon closed out that part of his career with a runner-up effort in the 2015 G1 Champagne S. and capped a three-race winning streak to end last season with a 1 1/4-length defeat of Beauty Only in the Lion Rock Trophy H., albeit in receipt of 16 pounds from his older rival. He was penciled in to kick off this preparation in the Sha Tin Trophy H. (1600m) Oct. 22, but kicked a wall in his stall and was rerouted for the oft-productive Class 1 (1400m) on international day Dec. 11. Clearly in need of that run, he was beaten 1 1/2 lengths into fifth by Blizzard (Aus) (Sebring {Aus}), who proceeded to win right back in Group 3 company three weeks later.
Rapper Dragon hit the ground running here and put himself into a prominent position early on as his stablemate People's Knight (Aus) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}) showed some early zip, but ultimately it was Circuit Hassler (NZ) (Shocking {Aus}) who came across the face of the field to take up the running. Winner's Way (Aus) (Starcraft {NZ}) rolled up to prompt from second while Rapper Dragon settled midfield, just to the inside of 'TDN Rising Star' Pakistan Star (Ger) (Shamardal) and a spot or two ahead of Beauty Generation (NZ) (Road To Rock {Aus}. Circuit Hassler carried the Classic Mile field off the home turn, but was soon besieged, as Rapper Dragon was pulled off the heels of Winner's Way and shot to the front with better than a furlong to race. From there, it was a matter of how far and he proved far too classy for his foes with an ultimate quarter-mile in a race-fastest :22.02. Seasons Bloom (Aus) (Captain Sonador {Aus}), some 31 ratings points inferior to the winner, charged home in :22.05 to grab second just ahead of Beauty Generation in third.
“He seems like something special,” Moreira told HKJC's David Morgan following the victory. “I was always comfortable, all the way through the race. When [trainer] John [Moore] asked me to ride him forward and race in the top five I was a bit surprised, but the way he jumps out he was always going to put himself where he was.”
And the Magic Man offered this warning for the future.
“The way he won today, you wouldn't doubt that he would step up to 1800m and perform at his top level, and I also believe he will make it over 2000 metres.”
Pedigree Notes:
Much of Rapper Dragon's family was offered by Eduardo Cojuangco's Gooree Park Stud and performed well at the 2015 Magic Millions National Broodmare and Weanling Sale. The winner's dam was purchased by Michael Wallace for A$360,000 in foal to Congrats (catalogue page) and produced a colt by that successful dual-hemisphere stallion in August 2015. He was recently purchased by KS Research for A$110,000 from the Newgate Farm consignment at the Gold Coast Yearling Sale. Rapper Dragon's half-sister Swing Sensation (Aus) (Northern Meteor {Aus}) fetched A$330,000 from Rosemont Stud/Blue Sky Bloodstock, while Swing Vote, sent through the ring on an October cover by Smart Missile (Aus), realized A$360,000 from Neil Jenkinson Bloodstock. Rapper Dragon's half-sister by Your Song (Aus) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) was subsequently knocked down to Canning Downs for A$150,000, while Amanpour (Aus) (Northern Meteor {Aus}), a half-sister to Swing Dance and winner of the G1 Queen of the Turf S., was the second-highest priced lot at the 2015 Broodmare Sale. Then four, she was hammered down to the Rosemont/Blue Sky team for A$1.5 million. The dam of a weanling colt by Newgate's Deep Field (Aus) (Northern Meteor {Aus}), Swing Dance was most recently bred back to Street Boss.
Sunday, Sha Tin, Hong Kong
HONG KONG CLASSIC MILE-LR, HK$10,000,000 (£1,046,123/€1,213,000/A$1,706,694/US$1,289,210), Sha Tin, 1-22, NH/SH4yo, 1600mT, 1:34.98, gd.
1–RAPPER DRAGON (AUS), 126, g, 4, by Street Boss
1st Dam: Swing Dance (Aus), by Danehill Dancer (Ire)
2nd Dam: Newscaster (Aus), by Marscay (Aus)
3rd Dam: Stormy Dream, by Storm Cat
O-Albert Hung; B-E Cojuangco (NSW); T-John Moore; J-Joao Moreira; HK$5,700,000. Lifetime Record: G1SP-Aus, 14-6-3-0, HK$12,945,000. *Formerly Street Rapper (Aus). **1/2 to Swing Vote (Aus) (Northern Meteor {Aus}), SP-Aus.[bullet ad=”irt-shell”]2–Seasons Bloom (Aus), 126, g, 4, Captain Sonador (Aus)–Pyramisa's Lass (Aus), by Not a Single Doubt (Aus). (A$26,000 Wlg '13 MMNWNL). O-Paul & Kathy Lo; B-B M Nolan (Qld); T-Danny Shum; HK$2,200,000.[bullet ad=”irt-shell”]3–Beauty Generation (NZ), 126, g, 4, Road To Rock (Aus)–Stylish Bel (Aus), by Bel Esprit (Aus). (NZ$60,000 Ylg '14 NZBSEL). O-Patrick Kwok; B-Nearco Stud Ltd; T-John Moore; HK$1,150,000.[bullet ad=”irt-shell”]Margins: 2, NK, 1 1/4. Odds: 11-10, 11-1, 11-2.
Also Ran: Winner's Way (Aus), Pakistan Star (Ger), Eagle Way (Aus), Baba Mama (NZ), Circuit Hassler (NZ), Helene Charisma (Fr), Western Express (Aus), People's Knight (Aus), Let Us Win (Aus), Super Chic (Ire), Rodrico (Aus). Scratched: Dukedom (NZ).
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