Champion trainer Frankie Lor Fu-chuen is set to showcase the first of many talented imported gallopers new to his team, with Australian maiden winner Super Vince declared to make his first Hong Kong start at Happy Valley on Wednesday.
Formerly known as Corvino, Super Vince won on his Australian debut over 1,200m at Yarra Valley in October 2021, clocking a time more than eight-tenths of a second faster than the older horses posted over the same distance later that day.
Super Vince – a son of star sprinter Brazen Beau, who Joao Moreira rode to both of his Group One triumphs – botched the beginning on his second and final Australian appearance, but rallied to beat all bar subsequent Group Two-winning colt Marine One. Super Vince lost more ground in the early stages than his losing margin of one and three-quarter lengths.
“It’s his first time at Happy Valley, so we don’t know how he’ll go. Maybe he’ll be looking around, but he certainly looks to have some ability,” said Lor about Super Vince, who is champion jockey Zac Purton’s booked conveyance in Wednesday’s Class Three Deep Water Bay Handicap (1,000m).
Super Vince is just one of a string of four-year-olds with potential in Lor’s yard and he is hoping he’s got some gallopers on his hands who will be good enough to make their presence felt over longer distances in the Classic Series later this season.
“There’s a horse called Sword Point, he’s from Australia and his ex-trainer is Chris Waller, and the other has just come to Hong Kong, Majestic Colour. If everything goes smoothly, I’m hoping they make it to the four-year-old series,” said Lor.
Sword Point placed third in the Group Two Tulloch Stakes at Newcastle in March before departing Australia, while Majestic Colour strung together four consecutive wins for Eagle Farm-based handler Kelly Schweida, including a two-length success in the Group Three Winx Guineas at the Sunshine Coast in July.
Lor has four gallopers engaged at Happy Valley on Wednesday, with Triple Triple, Loyal Baby and Five Elements primed to accompany Super Vince to the eight-race night meeting.
Five Elements bled from both of his nostrils following his extremely disappointing performance at Sha Tin in May.
“He trialled well in Conghua but I don’t know what to expect because of his last run last season. Before that he ran really well and Happy Valley should be a little bit weaker than Sha Tin, so we’ll give it a try,” said Lor.
A slow start to the 2021-22 Hong Kong campaign did not stop Lor realising his lifelong ambition of becoming champion trainer.
Moreira ‘feeling much better’ ahead of return at Sha Tin on Sunday
Last season, Lor saddled 12 winless runners across three meetings before his 13th starter, Fa Fa, prevailed in a tight finish at Happy Valley, pipping Surrealism by a nose. Lor is confident he will be a factor in the title race again this term.
“I’ll always be trying and I just want to win for the owners. How many winners I can have, I don’t know. A lot will depend on the horses and how good they are. I hope I can still make the top five and have 60-something winners,” Lor said.
