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HK: Guyon chases ambitious memories with Top Dragon
Maxime Guyon captured Hong Kong racing’s ultimate glory when he won the 2011 Hong Kong Derby (2000m) aboard former champion Ambitious Dragon (Pins), and this Sunday at Sha Tin the French rider takes his shot at landing the Hong Kong Classic Mile (1600m) aboard Top Dragon (Pierata) for trainer Chris So. Guyon won four times aboard Ambitious Dragon, who was twice Hong Kong Horse of the Year (2010/11 & 2011/12) and dominated his four-year-old division by also scooping the Hong Kong Classic Cup (1800m) a month prior to the Hong Kong Derby. “It’s a long time ago. It was my first time in Hong Kong. It was amazing to have the chance to win the Hong Kong Derby. I was young then; I was very lucky to ride Ambitious Dragon,” Guyon said. “He had a strong turn of foot. He was easy to ride, but he was just a really good horse.” Meanwhile, triple winner Top Dragon continues to improve with each of his 11 starts, most recently rising to Class 2, where he was third behind Sagacious Life (Put It Back) over 1600 metres after being crowded for room at the 250-metre mark, before rattling home in a race-best 23.08s (400m). The gelded son of Pierata (Pierro) has trialled once since that effort, pinching ground late under Guyon last Tuesday behind Group 3 winner Patch Of Theta (Zoustar) at Sha Tin. “He’s in good form. I trialled him over 1200 metres on the dirt, and he’s an easy horse. He ran well last start, but he was a little bit unlucky,” Guyon said. “I’m really happy with him. We just gave him an easy gallop, just to make sure he was moving well.”
HK: Amazing Kid aims to extend remarkable run at Happy Valley
Amazing Kid (Exceed And Excel) has found his rhythm, and jockey Andrea Atzeni is optimistic the John Size-trained sprinter can complete a hat-trick of wins in Wednesday night’s first section of the Class 4 Lockhart Handicap (1200m) at Happy Valley. During his familiar mid-season surge, Size has returned eight wins in January after slotting six in December. He trails the championship-leading Mark Newnham by 13 wins with 20 for the campaign as he chases a record-extending 14th training title. Amazing Kid broke through by a head in December before confirming that effort was no fluke with a length success in January – both times with Atzeni in the plate. “It just took him a bit of time to put it all together, but the ability was always there at that level. Once he got his head in front it’s done his confidence good,” Atzeni said. “His first win we had a good gate [one] and space opened up on the fence. He didn’t win by far, but he won quite cosily. The second time, we thought, well everything went right for him the first time, but he took a step forward.” Amazing Kid’s two triumphs have come in Class 4 at Happy Valley over 1200 metres. “He’s pretty good out of the gates; he puts himself in a good position most of the time. He travelled really well, and from being on top of him and watching the replay, he never actually looked in any doubt. When I let him down, he picked up and won quite well [last start],” Atzeni said.
JPN: I Am Invincible filly makes winning debut at Kokura
Juvenile I Am Invincible (Invincible Spirit) filly Empress K made a very promising start to her career when making a winning debut in a 1200-metre newcomer race at Kokura last Sunday. Trained by Yuki Uehara and ridden by Yuji Tannai, Empress K proved a length and a half too strong for Fukuotoko (Fierement) as she stopped the clock in 1:08.4s. Bred and sold by Cressfield, she was purchased at last year’s Inglis Easter sale for $1.4 million by Champions Farm and Satomi Oka Bloodstock. Empress K is the second winner from as many foals out of Pippie (Written Tycoon), who landed both the Moir Stakes (Gr 1, 1000m) and Oakleigh Plate (Gr 1, 1100m). Pippie herself was bought by Tasman Bloodstock for Cressfield for $1.8 million at the 2021 Inglis Chairman’s Sale. The daughter of Written Tycoon (Iglesia) died in 2024 and her final foal, a yearling colt by I Am Invincible, will be offered at Inglis Easter this year as Lot 20.