Two New NZB Champions in Hong Kong

New Zealand bred horses and NZB graduates have been in the spotlight at the annual Champions Awards in Hong Kong with Ambitious Dragon (NZ) named Champion Miler and All You Wish (NZ) Champion Griffin.

The two-time Hong Kong Champion Horse of the Year Ambitious Dragon (Pins) successfully defended the Champion Miler Award he also received in 2011/12 season. He started this season with a first up win in the HK-2 Oriental Watch Sha Tin Trophy over 1600m, to then be defeated by fellow New Zealand bred and NZB graduate Glorious Days (Hussonet) in the Group 2 HKJC Jockey Club Mile carrying a hefty 60.5kgs.

Ambitious Dragon’s best victory of the season then came in the Group 1 Longines Hong Kong Mile (1600m) during the coveted international race meeting, turning the table on Glorious Days. He went on to add another stakes victory in the new year, winning the HK-1 Queen's Silver Jubilee Cup (1600m).

Ambitious Dragon is by Waikato Stud’s outstanding sire Pins. He was offered but passed through the ring at NZB’s 2007 Karaka Select Sale by Belvedere Farm.

Ambitious Dragon is trained in Hong Kong by Tony Milliard for Johnson Lam Pui Hung & Anderson Lam Hin Yue. The gelding has put together an impressive record of 13 wins from 26 starts, three of them coming this season, earning over HK$57,000,000 in prize money.

Ambitious Dragon was the reigning Horse of the Year in Hong Kong but was beaten to the post this year by Hong Kong Cup hero Military Attack (IRE). The same horse also took the Champion Middle Distance award that Ambitious Dragon claimed last year. Ambitious Dragon was kept to the mile distance this year, only stepping out once beyond 1600m.

All You Wish (Thorn Park) completed a double on the night for NZB graduates when taking out the Champion Griffin Award. This Award is presented to the best two- or three-year-old import who has never raced in Hong Kong prior to the current season.

All You Wish has made a very promising start to his early career, winning five out of his first six starts. The three-year-old debuted back in December of last year, winning over 1200m. He was only beaten once, in his second start when he was second carrying 60.5kgs. He has won his last four starts in a row, all over 1400m, including the last race on last night’s programme.

All You Wish is trained by Dennis Yip who selected the horse out of NZB’s 2011 Ready to Run Sale. He was purchased for $250,000 from the draft of Beatson Stables. He has earned his owners, Carmen Chan Wing Yee & Chan Fut Yan, just over HK$3,000,000.

All You Wish is by Windsor Park’s Thorn Park, whose legacy is continuing to grow since his untimely death.

In a fitting end to the season, the great results continued for NZB graduates as they took out six races on the 11-race card on closing night at Sha Tin.

Silver Dragon (Cape Cross), Dining Star (Elusive City), Khaya (Librettist), Beauty Journey (Keeper), My Favourite (Haradasun) & All You Wish (Thorn Park) all saluted the judge first in consecutive races on the meeting.

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