Hong Kong, January 10 – The feature race at Sha Tin on Sunday was the Bauhinia Sprint Trophy HK Gr 3 over 1000 metres with victory going to the five year-old Catbird gelding Craig’s Dragon, a $150,000 purchase from the Yarraman Park draft at the 2006 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
The John Moore trained sprinter carried big weights in his last two starts in Class Two company when not beaten far and appreciated the drop to just 53 kg for his first tilt at Black Type.
Partnered by West Australian jockey William Pike, Craig’s Dragon stalked the leaders and then accelerated quickly at the finish to kick away and win by the best part of a length in the slick time of 56.61 seconds, his overall record now six wins and six placings from 20 starts.
"This is definitely my biggest win here, and it was lucky in the way that I was booked for the ride," Pike told South China Morning Post, having picked up the ride when Darren Beadman could not make the light weight.
"He felt a very fresh and happy horse in the run and I thought his last run wasn’t much of a guide to his chances today.
"On face value he was a little disappointing that day, but he never really got going until late and wasn’t fully tested."
Offered by Yarraman on behalf of the Cobcroft family, Craig’s Dragon was the only yearling by Catbird offered at Easter that year.
A half-brother to 12 other winners, Craig’s Dragon is the 13th living foal of outstanding broodmare Steam Heat who passed away in 2006.
A prolific producer, the Salieri (USA) mare left a host of winners including the brilliant Group Three winner Hot as Hell and equally smart Listed winner Flaming Hot, who were interestingly sired by County, a Vain horse from the same female family as Craig’s Dragon’s sire Catbird.
