Frankie Lor Fu-chuen and Class Five has proven to be a potent combination this season and jockey Chad Schofield is confident a better draw can help Furious Pegasus add to the trainer’s impressive statistics.
Sixteen of Lor’s 33 winners this season have been in the bottom grade at a strike rate of nearly 40 per cent and Furious Pegasus will be out to make it three wins in the grade when he contests the Swan Handicap (1,800m).
Furious Pegasus stormed home for second from over the same course and distance last start after Schofield was forced to surrender race position.
“It was a huge effort when you consider the circumstances, he had to circumnavigate the field from way back and he was still closing off at the end of the race,” Schofield said. “He had overcome a wide barrier when he had won previously but last start he didn’t show the same speed and from the gate I had no option.”
Now a better barrier against a typical Class Five field could make all the difference.
“From barrier six we should be able to find a more prominent position and give him less to do. Since he has gone to Frankie he is really flying. He won on the turf for me as well, but I think his best surface is the dirt.”
Schofield heads to the all-dirt meeting at Sha Tin with just three rides, but feels two of them have terrific chances, with Benno Yung Tin-pang bringing Money Money back to the all-weather track after an excellent showing on the turf last time out.
Money Money has been plagued by leg issues but Schofield rode the five-year-old in trackwork on Saturday and said the gelding felt in good order.
“He felt as good as he did going into that last run,” Schofield said. “He is a very casual horse so it is hard to get a gauge on him; he only does what he has to. But when the blinkers go on for a race he really switches himself on and from a good gate I think he is going to run well.”
The 23-year-old Schofield is eighth in the jockeys’ championship with 17 winners so far this season after finishing ninth with 31 wins last term.
