Hong Kong Horse of the Year Ambitious Dragon (NZ) will return to racing in the National Day Cup (1400m) at Sha Tin on October 1.

The son of Waikato Stud sire Pins began the 2010-11 season with a lowly handicap before rising through the ranks to win at Group 1 level in the Hong Kong Derby and the Audemars Piguet QEII Cup.

Ambitious Dragon (5g Pins – Golden Gamble by Oregon) is raced by Johnson Lam Pui Hung after being passed in for $47,500 at the 2008 Karaka Select Sale.  His dam is a half-sister to Recall (Kaapstad) who won five races up to 2400m including the Listed STC Winter Cup.

“He had a well-earned break after such a superb season,” trainer Tony Millard said.  “I can’t really single out which of the Group 1 wins was the most impressive as he ran past two very good fields pretty easily.”

The form of both these races certainly has worked out well with Xtension, Mighty High, Gitano Hernando and Wigmore Hall all since winning at the highest level throughout the world.  

After the National Day Cup, Millard plans to set the Kiwi bred gelding for the Jockey Club Cup in November and the Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Cup in December.