Group 3 Chinese Club Challenge Cup success for Taj Dragon

Tattersalls Ireland Breeze-up Sale graduate Taj Dragon, provided second season trainer Pierre Ng with the biggest win of his fledgling career, with victory in the Group 3 Chinese Club Challenge Cup at Sha Tin. 

He was purchased at the 2021 Tattersalls Ireland Breeze Up Sale from Tally-Ho Stud by BBA Ireland for £19,000. He was renamed Taj Dragon by his current connections, having raced as Taj Alriyadh when trained in the UK by Karl Burke 

Taj Dragon was making it three wins from his last four starts, and this victory marked a career best effort from the son of Mehmas. It was a significant winner for jockey Andrea Atzeni, as it provided the Italian with his most valuable winner since relocating from the UK last year. 

It was a fifth win in 13 starts for Taj Dragon, who’s unraced dam Next Trial, is a half-sister to 2021 Breeders Cup mile winner Space Blues. 

He proved himself a precocious juvenile as having been purchased in early June 2021, he made a successful racecourse debut just over five weeks later. He added two further wins for his previous connections, and his final start in the UK saw him contest the Listed Redcar Two-Year-Old Trophy. 

Trainer Pierre Ng commented afterwards that Group 1 company could next be on the agenda for the rapidly improving Taj Dragon.