Rapper Dragon Cleans Up in Classic Cup

Rated 114 and some 14 points clear of the second-best Derby contender, Rapper Dragon (Aus) (Street Boss) looked to have his 12 rivals in Sunday's Hong Kong Classic Cup over a barrel, and so it proved. The sleek chestnut raced away to a comfortable victory to become the third horse and second in as many years to complete the Classic Mile-Classic Cup double and will be favored to repeat the dose in the Hong Kong Derby in four weeks' time.

Away in good order from his low draw, Rapper Dragon was gradually eased back into a centerfield position as Winner's Way (Aus) (Starcraft {NZ}) set the pace, as expected, pressed along through a strong opening 600 metres by Beauty Generation (NZ) (Road to Rock {Aus}), the Classic Mile third who was given a more positive ride by Zac Purton this time around. Seasons Bloom (Aus) (Captain Sonador {Aus}), runner-up to Rapper Dragon last time, raced further back in the company of the progressive Dinozzo (Ire) (Lilbourne Lad {Ire}), while 'TDN Rising Star' Pakistan Star (Ger) (Shamardal) was snagged back to the tail by Silvestre de Sousa, in stark contrast to the ride he was given in the Classic Mile.

Winner's Way and Beauty Generation were still going a good gallop entering the final three furlongs, and sensing a move from behind from Hugh Bowman atop Dinozzo, Joao Moreira edged Rapper Dragon out into the three path for a clear shot as the field reached the top of the stretch. While the leaders were beginning to run on empty, Rapper Dragon was just getting warmed up, as he hit the front with a little better than 200 metres to travel and was ridden out to a comfortable score. Pakistan Star, quietly ridden into the lane, peeled out widest and covered his final quarter-mile in a race-fastest :22.08 to finish just ahead of the honest Seasons Bloom, who lost his right-fore plate at the 1200m. The winner's stablemate, G1 Queensland Derby hero Eagle Way (Aus) (More Than Ready), closed off nicely for fourth in what could be deemed an ideal Derby trial.

“He's a very good horse, I'd said that before, and we had no doubts about him getting the extra 200 metres today, he drew the gun gate (4),” trainer John Moore told the Hong Kong Jockey Club's David Morgan. “There was quite a lot of speed early, which was a big surprise, but he was the top-rated horse.”

The Australian conditioner is now in line for a sixth Hong Kong Derby trophy and third in four years.

“We're going into the Derby full of confidence and now we just hope the owner can pull a good draw in the Derby and I think he'd be repeating,” Moore offered. “He's definitely the horse to beat. He's going to be joining the elite brigade in Hong Kong.”

Rapper Dragon joins Floral Pegasus (Aus) (Fusaichi Pegasus, 2007) and Sun Jewellery (Aus) (Snitzel {Aus}, 2016) as horses to have completed the Mile/Cup double.

Click for the HKJC.com chart, sectional timing and PPs. VIDEO.

Pedigree Notes…
Much of Rapper Dragon's female 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 CUP-LR, HK$10,000,000 (£1,032,384/€1,208,183/A$1,674,776/US$1,288,767), Sha Tin, 2-19, NH/SH4yo, 1800mT, 1:46.98, gd/fm.
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, 15-7-3-0,
HK$18,645,000. *Formerly Street Rapper (Aus). **1/2 to
Swing Vote (Aus) (Northern Meteor {Aus}), SP-Aus.
2–Pakistan Star (Ger), 126, g, 4, Shamardal–Nina Celebre (Ire),
'TDN Rising Star' by Peintre Celebre. (€180,000 Ylg '14
ARQAUG; HK$6,000,000 HRA '16 HKIS). O-Kerm Din; B-Gestut
Wittkindshof; T-Tony Cruz; HK$2,200,000.
3–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$1,100,000.
Margins: 1HF, 1HF, HF. Odds: 7-10, 89-10, 89-10.
Also Ran: Eagle Way (Aus), California Whip, My Darling (Aus), Dinozzo (Ire), Rodrico (Aus), Prawn Baba (Aus), Winner's Way (Aus), Beauty Generation (NZ), Western Express (Aus), Super Chic (Ire).