Frankie Lor Fu-chuen may have won the last race at Sha Tin on Sunday but his lead in the trainers’ championship is now down to just two.

While Winning Dreamer disappointed most punters when bouncing back to form at odds of $50 to salute in the Class Two Amah Rock Handicap (1,200m), the victory meant Lor only lost out 2-1 on the day to his title rival John Size.

Lor’s five-year-old had taken the city by storm when first arriving by winning his first six starts but had struggled since, with only a couple of third-placed finishes to show from his previous 11 starts, and a change of tactics seemed to have the desired effect.

“The last two times he had an outside draw we tried to sit behind but we didn’t get a result,” Lor said after Winning Dreamer delivered from gate 12.

“This time, we tried to go forward to see if it would be any different and he looked better. I think his confidence will come back and he should be OK.”

Winning Dreamer’s success resulted in the Class Two races on the card being shared by the protagonists in the trainers’ title, as Size took out the Hung Mui Kuk Handicap (2,000m) with the fast-improving Running Glory.

The four-year-old was winning for the fifth time in his past seven starts and was partnered by Antoine Hamelin, who found himself in the winner’s enclosure for only the second time in the past 13 meetings.

“When I got this ride, I was very happy because he’s a good horse – he almost always wins so I was very thankful to Mr Size to give me this support,” Hamelin said.

“We had a good race, got the perfect midfield cover and he then he gave me the dash to finish.”

This win off a mark of 83 came on his first attempt at 2,000m and the win opens up plenty of opportunities for the son of Kermadec.

“He appreciated the rise in trip,” Size said. “He settled nicely and handled his first time at the 2,000m well. He couldn’t have done any better, he was very good.

“I’ll have a look at the programme – he can run at a mile or 2,000m and he can win at both distances, so we’ll just see what’s on.”

Size is unsure of the ceiling of Running Glory’s ability as he continues his rise up the ranks.

“His record says he will keep winning, he’s got a good record and we can’t take that away from him just yet,” Size said.

Beauty Joy shows his class as Purton is back among the winners with a treble

The 11-time champion trainer brought up a double on the day when Brilliant Way beat a host of promising youngsters to win the Class Three Eagle’s Nest Handicap (1,200m).

With the unbeaten Sakewin, three-time winner Packing Treadmill, last-time out victor Majestic Knight and Buzzinga all in action, the race shaped up to be a thriller but it was a delighted Alexis Badel who punched the air as the winning rider when Brilliant Way just held on to win by a neck.