Trainer Ricky Yiu Poon-fai made the call early that Legendary Dragon would be a Happy Valley horse and the lightly raced gelding returns there with a great chance to win the Hong Kong Exchanges Challenge Cup (1,200m) today. For one of the infrequent Sunday meetings at Happy Valley, the Jockey Club has programmed two excellent Class One events to close out the day, and the Exchanges Challenge Cup is a race brimful of talented sprinters.But what the professional Legendary Dragon (Mark du Plessis)
Trainer Ricky Yiu Poon-fai made the call early that Legendary Dragon would be a Happy Valley horse and the lightly raced gelding returns there with a great chance to win the Hong Kong Exchanges Challenge Cup (1,200m) today. For one of the infrequent Sunday meetings at Happy Valley, the Jockey Club has programmed two excellent Class One events to close out the day, and the Exchanges Challenge Cup is a race brimful of talented sprinters.
But what the professional Legendary Dragon (Mark du Plessis) has in his favour is just 114 pounds on board, even after the rider puts up an expected one pound overweight, and his unbeaten record at the quirky circuit.
Tried unsuccessfully up the straight at his Hong Kong debut, Legendary Dragon then went to the Valley in February to win twice in a week at this 1,200m course, each time camped behind the speed from a good draw before proving too strong.
Yiu said later that he had tagged Legendary Dragon right off the plane as a Happy Valley specialist but had run him at Sha Tin at the behest of his owner.
Connections then opted for a return to Sha Tin last time, and Legendary Dragon was not disgraced behind Arrived Ahead in finishing fifth on Derby day after being given his chance, but he simply doesn't seem to be the same horse at the bigger, firmer track. (www.racing.scmp.com).