Filial Dragon has improved by leaps and bounds in recent weeks, so much so that leading trainer Jason Ong did not hesitate to send him out for the third consecutive week in the Korea Racing Authority Trophy at Sungei Besi today.

Filial Dragon was nosed-out by Valois in a Class 3 – 1200m sprint on Jun 1 but came out last week to beat stablemate Pacific Commander over 1400m.

Promoted a class and meeting some well-credentialled galloper in the 1020m sprint on the No. 2 track today, Filial Dragon showed that he is truly a horse on the rise as he defeated recent big winners Bransom and Pacific Padrino and set a new course record time in the process.

Filial Dragon stopped the clock at 57.98 seconds, shaving 0.02 second off Pacific Warlord’s record which was set only last month.

Good Fight, Witnessimpact and Pacific Padrino fought for the early lead. Witmessimpact and Pacific Padrino eventually broke away on settling down with Filial Dragon and Bransom joining Good Fight next in a line at the 600m.

Witnessimpact kicked clear on entering the home stretch but his advantage did not last long. He was under pressure coming to the 200m.

Pacific Padrino charged at him with Filial Dragon and Bransom also coming into the picture.

Witnessimpact found little left in the tank in the final 100m. Pacific Padrino was left in front but Filial Dragon and Bransom soon swept past hime with Filial Dragon winning by half a length.

Filial Dragon’s success was a big relief to jockey Wong Kan Chong on two fronts.

“It’s been several weeks since I won on this track,” he said. Indeed, his last success at Sungai Besi was on May 4 when he scored on Rocky Bhai.

“It was also my first win for Ong (in 21 rides).”

“It’s all thanks to Ong for keeping the horse in great shape.

“The pace was just too fast early so I had to be patient on Filial Dragon.

“I managed to get him going towards the end and I think the light weight helped him today.”

Ong, however, reckoned the lighter weight today (compared to his last start) was not the major factor in Filial Dragon’s success.

“It took him a while to get use to the (Sungai Besi) track but he is thriving here.”

Filial Dragon, who won twice in Class 4 at Kranji, finished dead-last in his first two Malaysian starts but has since recorded three wins and seconds in seven outings.

Ong had another red-letter day saddling four winners, his third four-timer in recent weeks.

Earlier, Ong saddled The Wild Fire to victory, then came his success with Pacific Victory in the 4 Year Old Sprint Championship (see separate report) before rounding up the afternoon with Smart Like Jason in the final event.