Francis Lui Kin-wai will launch a double-pronged attack on Sunday’s Class One Healthy Community Handicap (1,400m), with the veteran handler confident both Patch Of Theta and Divano can make their presence felt this weekend.
Patch Of Theta drops significantly back in grade after finishing down the field in consecutive Group One efforts, with the five-year-old to carry 127 pounds from gate two under Hugh Bowman.
“He needs a fast pace, otherwise he will be too keen. He still needs to improve off his last few runs,” said Lui.
Never out of the placings across 10 starts in his debut campaign last season, including four wins, Hong Kong International Sale graduate Patch Of Theta has added another two wins to his CV this term.
Smart win, Patch Of Theta! 🫡
— HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) January 2, 2025
Francis Lui's Hong Kong International Sale graduate could be Stewards' Cup bound after his smashing G3 Chinese Club Challenge Cup victory on New Year's Day at Sha Tin... @KarisTeetan #LuckyStart | #LoveRacing | #HKracing pic.twitter.com/kCZMNqPmR9
The second of those was a comfortable success in January’s Group Three Chinese Club Challenge Cup (1,400m) and the 108-rated galloper looks perfectly suited at the same course and distance on Sunday.
Divano is another galloper who should be right at home over Sha Tin’s seven furlongs, with the four-year-old a close third behind Packing Hermod and Young Champion at the trip in Class Two last month.
A swashbuckling runner-up in January’s Classic Mile after rattling home under Blake Shinn, the 1,800m of the Classic Cup was a bridge too far for Divano and Lui has stepped his charge back in trip after he ran 10th in the second leg of the Classic Series.
Angus Chung Yik-lai jumps aboard the son of Brave Smash for the first time this weekend, with the three-pound claimer reducing his mount’s impost to just 112 pounds.
Divano gallops on the dirt.
Divano has drawn outside his stablemate Patch Of Theta in gate three and Chung will have options with a galloper who has proven he can race on the speed or leave his run until late.
“He’s in good form and he has a light weight,” said Lui. “We’ve got two good chances.”
Lui isn’t the only handler entering Sunday’s feature with multiple hopes, with Pierre Ng Pang-chi saddling up Mugen, Taj Dragon and Drombeg Banner.
After a slow start to the season which included a 13th in the Group One Sprinters Stakes (1,200m) in Japan, Mugen is third up from a spell this weekend and appears to be close to returning to top form after a solid Class One fourth behind Lucky With You last time out.
Mugen wins last season’s Group Three Premier Cup.
While Britney Wong Po-ni was in the saddle on that occasion, Luke Ferraris takes the reins on Sunday and Mugen carries 126 pounds.
Also in the race is Classic Cup winner Rubylot, who steps back from the 2,000m of the Hong Kong Derby before returning to 10 furlongs for the Group One QE II Cup later this month.
Beauty Joy, Invincible Sage and Mr Ascendency round out the field.
