Francis Lui Kin-wai was left drawing comparisons to the mighty Golden Sixty after Hot Delight maintained his unbeaten record in sparkling fashion at Sha Tin’s Lunar New Year meeting on Thursday.

A dominant winner on debut over course and distance last month, Lui was very upbeat about the Too Darn Hot galloper on the day and it seems that glowing report was more than warranted as he dazzled again in the first section of the Class Three Yue Yee Handicap (1,200m).

The in-form 67-year-old is no stranger to handling top-class horses, training Golden Sixty to 10 Group One victories in a glittering career, and Hot Delight has left him dreaming of another superstar in his stable.

“He’s a nice horse. He needs to improve but the way he runs, he looks like he’s better than Golden Sixty at the same stage,” Lui said after Hot Delight justified $1.25 favouritism to bolt in.

“He’s learning – especially after his first run, he’s more relaxed. I think that’s the main thing for a young horse.

“He’ll have one or two more runs [this season]. We won’t push him too hard. I think even up to a mile will be no problem.”

Hot Delight’s second win in Hong Kong was arguably more impressive than his first, with the Vincent Ho Chak-yiu-ridden three-year-old bouncing out of stall six and virtually making all.

Turning into the straight, the pair travelled effortlessly and Ho only needed to get briefly serious at the 200m pole, with his mount shooting clear in brilliant fashion to record a two-and-three-quarter length success without ever coming out of first gear.

After passing his first Class Three test, there is likely to be much more to come from the emerging galloper and Ho, who rode Golden Sixty on all of his 31 starts, might also be having flashbacks if he can continue on his way up the grades.

It was the second leg of a brilliant double for Lui, who unleashed another promising sort in the form of Baby Sakura in the second section of the Class Four Fat Choi Handicap (1,200m).

Breaking from barrier 11, the Tagaloa galloper was given an expertly judged ride by James Orman, with the Australian jockey managing to get a sit outside the leader Elite Golf throughout the journey.

As they paired off in the straight, Baby Sakura showed a willing attitude to get on top in the closing stages, ultimately pulling clear to flatten his rivals in an impressive one and three-quarter length triumph.

“He won well – after the race I can tell you he’s not a bad horse,” said Lui. “I was a little bit worried about the draw, but he jumped out and the jockey handled him very well.

“The horse relaxed well and saved lots of energy. I think he can improve into Class Three without any problem.”

The brace puts Lui onto 17 winners for 2026, continuing the stable’s remarkable run of form.

The 2023-24 trainers’ premiership winner is now on 29 winners for the campaign overall and is starting to enter the conversation for this year’s title race, sitting seven wins behind leader Caspar Fownes.