Frankie Lor breaks through with Sha Tin double

By Leo Schlink
Winless after eight meetings, Frankie Lor’s stable cranked into top gear at Sha Tin on Sunday (6 October) with a double crowned by Sword Point rsquo;s brilliant win in the Class 2 Nam Long Shan Handicap (1650m, dirt).

Champion trainer in 2021/22, Lor slotted his first winner of the season when unraced Mendelssohn gelding Master Trillion proved too slick in the Class 4 Middle Bay Handicap (1000m) under Derek Leung before the pair combined with Sword Point, who blazed to a three and three quarter length win while making his dirt track debut in the afternoon’s feature.

“It took a long time to get a winner, but sometimes you just have to concentrate on your horses and get them in good form for the races and not worry about the days that you will win — sometimes you just don’t know when you will win,” Lor said.

Master Trillion ended Lor’s frustrating run of outs, capped by a string of minor placings — six seconds and three thirds from 45 runners — with an impressive triumph.

“I’ve had six seconds — some just beaten by a head, some just beaten by a neck, some had no luck. I haven’t been that lucky. Anyway, I need to do my best to win for my owners,” Lor said.

Lor indicated Sword Point, a dual winner on turf and Group 2-placed in Hong Kong, will be prepared for the G3 Sa Sa Ladies’ Purse Handicap (1800m) on 3 November after the six-year-old was given a perfect ride by Leung to take his earnings beyond HK$13 million.

“I don’t think there will be another dirt race for him for a while. His sire is American Pharoah and I just trialled him on the dirt to see if he could show me if he liked it,” Lor said, adding he was pleased with Master Trillion’s debut.

“He trialled four times. His trials weren’t really good — just so-so. Some horses like this when they don’t trial very good, maybe in a race they’ll be better. I think this horse is like that. Also, this race wasn’t that strong. It was a little bit weak.

“I think he should get further later on. We’ll see how he improves after this race.”

Michael Chang matched Lor’s brace with the wins of Lady’s Choice and Forever Folks, who gave Ben Thompson his second win of the term with success in the Class 4 High West Handicap (1650, dirt). Chang and Karis Teetan successfully combined with Lady’s Choice in the Class 3 Sai Wan Shan Handicap (1200m).

Zac Purton (17 wins for the season) and Hugh Bowman (12) both rode doubles.

Bowman opened his account atop Danny Shum-trained Joyful Prosperity in the Class 5 Tung Lung Chau Handicap (1800m). By Daiwa Major, the gelding had notched eight minor placings in 19 starts before today’s victory.

Talented Sky Trust then continued his upward spiral for Caspar Fownes with victory in the Class 4 Pak Tam Au Handicap (1400m) under Bowman. Resuming after undergoing throat surgery in August, the So You Think gelding comfortably dispatched his rivals under a clinical Bowman ride.

Purton countered with wins aboard Young Horizon, who posted his third course and distance win for David Hayes in the Class 5 Lamma Island Handicap (1400m) before the seven-time Hong Kong champion scored on Pierre Ng-trained Aeroinvincible in the second section of the Class 4 Pak Tam Au Handicap (1400m).

Ricky Yiu and Jerry Chau teamed with Lucky Eight to snare the Class 4 Chinese Recreation Club Challenge Cup Handicap (1200m) before Cody Mo-trained Alpha One landed the Class 3 Federation Of HK Guangdong Community Trophy Handicap (1000m) under Matthew Chadwick.

A three-time winner in Australia for Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young, Alpha One was Group 3-placed behind crack sprinter Giga Kick in Australia and was having only his fourth start in Hong Kong today.

Hong Kong racing continues at Happy Valley on Wednesday night (9 October).