Sing Dragon G3 Mahab Al Shimaal aspirations gather momentum this week as Hong Kong trainer Chris So fine-tunes every detail ahead of Saturday night’s 1200-metre dirt sprint at Meydan Racecourse in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
With more than 400 winners to his name in Hong Kong, So is leaving little to chance. Gear adjustments, gate schooling and carefully planned trackwork in an anticlockwise direction have all formed part of the meticulous build-up as the five-time winner attempts to make his presence felt on foreign soil.
“He’s training well. He will have a jump out from the gates and then run for around 400 metres on Thursday morning ahead of Super Saturday,” So explained this week.
“This way he gets a feel for the starting stalls – his gate speed is important. Sometimes, if a horse jumps slow, they face kickback and then stop. He’ll wear pacifiers, too, this weekend. He’s never raced with them, but he trialled well wearing them.”
The pacifiers – a protective mesh designed to shield a horse’s eyes from dirt and debris – were fitted when Sing Dragon finished third in a recent 1200-metre dirt trial, stopping the clock at 1m 09.21s under Karis Teetan. The effort offered encouragement that the six-year-old is adapting well to subtle changes.
Sing Dragon G3 Mahab Al Shimaal Test on Dirt
Saturday’s Sing Dragon G3 Mahab Al Shimaal assignment represents both a new challenge and a significant opportunity. Although yet to race for So in competition, the gelding has made 23 previous appearances in Hong Kong, collecting five victories on Sha Tin’s all-weather surface.
By Written Tycoon, Sing Dragon is owned by The Rotary Club of Gd-HK-MA-GBA Syndicate and has built a reputation as a capable dirt performer. Whether that form translates to Meydan’s unique surface remains the pivotal question.
So has been down this road before. He previously campaigned Fabulous One and Classic Emperor in Dubai, each racing twice without managing a top-three finish. Experience, however, has sharpened his approach.
“I took Classic Emperor to Dubai. He stumbled out of the gates and lost the rider. Sing Dragon trialled well in Hong Kong,” So said. “I hope he can perform well, because he must handle two things: track condition and running anticlockwise.
“I galloped him twice going anticlockwise in Hong Kong and both were smooth, but it’ll be totally different when he is under pressure. The surface is totally different in Dubai, and it’s not going to be easy, but I hope he runs well. Karis Teetan rides him.”
Teetan’s familiarity with the horse could prove crucial in a race where early speed and positioning are often decisive factors.
The G3 Mahab Al Shimaal, a key feature on Dubai’s Super Saturday programme, has previously fallen to Hong Kong connections. In 2014, Rich Tapestry, trained by Michael Chang, captured the sprint, providing a notable overseas success story.
Four races from the Super Saturday fixture at Meydan Racecourse will be shown to Hong Kong audiences, with Sing Dragon’s bid scheduled to jump at 11.25pm local viewing time.
For So and his team, the mission is clear: ensure every variable within their control is addressed before Sing Dragon steps onto the dirt. Overseas victories are never straightforward, but careful preparation can narrow the margin between promise and performance.
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