Lyndhurst Stud stallion Hidden Dragon surpassed all expectations with his first crop in 2009-10.  A Top 4 finish behind Stratum, Snitzel and Foreplay will be a hard act to follow but he started the second crop rolling with Miss Honahlee at Townsville on Tuesday.

Hidden Dragon has now sired 21 winners of 35 races headed by the Flemington and Moonee Valley stakes winner Hollowlea.

Miss Honahlee (2f  Hidden Dragon – Lacquest by Quest for Fame) showed a quick turn of foot to easily win the Commonwealth Hotel Hcp (1000m) from Champagne Buzz (All Bar One) and Kelldeano (Ferocity).

Prepared at Cairns by Fred Wieland, Miss Honahlee is raced by a group of North Queenslanders headed by Rob and Jane Koch.  They bought her for $14,000 from Girralie Thoroughbreds at the Magic Millions QTIS 600 yearling sale in March.

She won her purchase price back in full at Townsville courtesy of a QTIS 600 bonus which bumped the race’s overall prizemoney to $20,000.  Connections will send the filly for a break before setting her for the $100,000 Great Northern Plate at Townsville.  

“We loved the QTIS bonuses – but QTIS 600 is even better,” Rob Koch said.  “We liked the filly at the sales but thought she would be out of our budget.”

Hidden Dragon has certainly upgraded the Townsville winner’s pedigree.  Her dam retired a maiden after 17 starts and the closest black-type is through her second dam’s half-brother Bordeaux (Listed SA Johnnie Walker Classic).

Making an immediate impact has helped Hidden Dragon in the sale ring.  Singapore trainer Don Baertschiger paid $110,000 for one his second crop colts at the Magic Millions National HIT Sale last month.