Lyle Hewitson is confident Speed Dragon can handle the distance rise in Sunday’s (24 March) HK$26 million 147th BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m) at Sha Tin.
Untested over the trip, Speed Dragon finished an impeded fourth in the HK$13 million Hong Kong Classic Mile (1600m) before travelling wide throughout when ninth in the HK$13 million Hong Kong Classic Cup (1800m) – both races were won by Helios Express.
Hewitson, 26, returns from suspension when he takes five rides tomorrow night (Wednesday, 20 March) at Happy Valley, while this morning (Tuesday, 19 March) he partnered his BMW Hong Kong Derby mount in a turf gallop at Sha Tin.
“This morning he galloped beautifully, so it’s all systems go,” said Hewitson of Speed Dragon’s work alongside stablemate Chancheng Glory in 33s, 28.8s, 27.8s (1m 29.6s).
Trained by Francis Lui, Speed Dragon has won once in Hong Kong from six starts, scoring over the mile in Class 3 last December.
“The top-quality horses in the race do have question marks over the trip and whether they’ll settle. Speed Dragon is a horse that I know will get the trip. He’s uncomplicated and he is a very, very genuine horse.
“So, put a line through his last run and his Classic Mile run was excellent,” Hewitson said.