Pierre Ng hopes Taj Dragon’s imposing course and distance prowess will offset the gelding’s weight challenge in the G3 Celebration Cup Handicap (1400m) at Sha Tin on Sunday (22 September).
Taj Dragon has won six times and placed twice from 12 starts over Sha Tin's 1400m trip, but Ng is aware the Irish-bred gelding will have to post a new career-high when he shoulders 135lb against six rivals this weekend, having never won with more than 133lb previously.
To face Flying Ace (131lb), Healthy Happy (129lb), Packing Treadmill (122lb), The Golden Scenery (121lb), Chiu Chow Spirit (117lb) and Wonder Kit (115lb), Taj Dragon will start from barrier one under Vincent Ho.
"Taj Dragon's doing well, training really well but the one concern I have is the topweight in a Group 3, carrying 135 (pounds)," Ng said. "He's only a small horse, which makes it more difficult but he's got the class to run well.
"He's come back really well, so we have planned for 1400 metres and next run will be 1200m (G2 Premier Bowl on 20 October) with the blinkers. I think he can run really well on Sunday."
Formerly known as Taj Alriyadh when trained by Karl Burke, Taj Dragon won three races up to 1200m in Great Britain before transferring to Ng's stable. The young horseman is hopeful the 111-rater can add to the HK$13.46 million in prizemoney he has amassed since arriving in Hong Kong.
"Long term, hopefully he can get another one or two Group 3 races. Depending on the schedule, if there's a Class 1, he could go there if the race is suitable," Ng said.
Last season's Celebration Cup winner Healthy Happy, who will be ridden by Matthew Chadwick, returns for this year's race along with last season's third place-getter The Golden Scenery, who will be partnered by Brenton Avdulla.
While Ng is eager to add to the Group 3 spoils he claimed during a memorable 2023/24 campaign, he is happy with Mugen's progress G1 Sprinters Stakes (1200m) at Nakayama Racecourse in Japan on 29 September.
"He's settled in well, it's been very hot there for the last couple of days so he will recover from that and everything seems normal," Ng said of the upcoming clash with fellow Hong Kong speedster Victor The Winner.
Following the lead of fellow Group 1 winners Romantic Warrior, California Spangle and Invincible Sage, who impressed with trial performances on Tuesday (17 September), G1 FWD Champions Mile (1600m) winner Beauty Eternal contested a barrier trial at Sha Tin this morning (Thursday, 19 September).
Ridden by Zac Purton, the gelding finished seventh – beaten three and three quarter lengths – behind Patch Of Time in 1m 12.32s.
Sunday's (22 September) 10-race meeting at Sha Tin starts with the Class 4 Hwamei Handicap (1650m, dirt) at 1pm. A farewell ceremony will be held at 3.10pm for champion galloper Golden Sixty, the only Hong Kong horse to win 10 Group 1s and a record HK$167 million in prizemoney.
The three-time Hong Kong Horse of the Year will be feted by Hong Kong racing purists to mark the contribution to the city's racing and his phenomenal achievements.
Racegoers who wear a top or a cheering scarf, featuring a motif of Golden Sixty or his racing silk elements, can enjoy free admission to the Sha Tin Public Enclosure from 11am.
