Trainer Tony Millard enjoyed his biggest Hong Kong success in 2012 when the brilliant local champion Ambitious Dragon blitzed to victory in the G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Mile. Three years down the line, with “The Dragon” enjoying a well-deserved retirement, Millard is this year pinning his hopes on an emerging sprinter, the four-year-old Strathmore.
The Fastnet Rock gelding has won five from 12 starts in Hong Kong but never above Class 2. The bay’s only attempt at a higher grade in fact came last start when, after a troubled passage, he ran on to finish two and a quarter lengths sixth behind Gold-Fun in the G2 BOCHK Wealth Management Jockey Club Sprint (1200m). Millard believes the up-and-comer has the talent to shake up the international Group 1 stars he will encounter in Sunday’s G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint (1200m), placing his faith in what he sees as the horse’s partially-tapped potential.
“It was a brilliant run last time when you consider he was severely interfered with at the start and raced second-last. Chad (Schofield) couldn’t move, he couldn’t do anything, he had to just wait behind horses, and he waited until the 150-metre mark before he could even start to ride him. He then rode him and he flew, so it was a brilliant run. With a bit of luck he would have definitely run in to the placings and might have won it,” said Millard.
“He’s as well, if not better. He’s a young horse, he’s a four-year-old and he’s improving so there’s always that scope. Every time he’s running he’s taking the step up.”
Strathmore worked on the all-weather track yesterday (Monday) and clocked 25.6s for the final 400m.
“He did some faster work on Monday and we’ll give him one more work on Friday and then he’s set,” continued Millard. ‘I couldn’t be happier with him. He has potential, he has the credentials and he’s a horse on the up. He’s in the race on merit and anything could happen.”
“There are horses in the race that have been and done it before but are getting on and there are those that have never done it that might run a good race but that you can’t see winning it. He’s one of those improving horses that might win this race.”
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Photo 1:
The Tony Millard-trained LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint runner Strathmore gallops on Sha Tin��s all-weather track on Monday morning.
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