In familiar territory with Golden Sixty as the champion galloper prepares for the Group 1 Hong Kong Mile (1600m) at Sha Tin on December 11, Francis Lui is optimistic Superb Boy can provide positive stable momentum by winning the Class 3 Peninsula Golden Jubilee Challenge Cup Handicap (1000m) at Sha Tin on Sunday (December 4).
Occupying third place in the Hong Kong trainers’ championship with 17 wins behind Frankie Lor (20 wins) and Tony Cruz (19), Lui has five runners tomorrow and is hopeful Superb Boy build on his debut victory over 1000m on 23 October.
“He’s kept improving, he’s a lovely horse. He’s moving well,” Lui said of the Nicconi gelding, who jumps from barrier two under Zac Purton. “I don’t mind gate two, he’s got a big stride and he’ll just run his race. He’s getting stronger after his last run. He should run well.”
Formerly trained in Australia by Jean Dubois when known as Jerry, Superb Boy carried 120lb on debut and rises to 125lb on Sunday.
Monitoring the final phase of Golden Sixty’s preparation for a tilt at a third consecutive HK$30 million Group 1 Hong Kong Mile (1600m) victory, Lui indicated the seven-year-old champion was thriving.
“He’s okay after the last run and, at the moment, I just try to keep him happy. He’s healthy, happy and is character is just the same. To me, I think he is a special horse. You can see every time, he just wants to pass a horse in front of him,” he said.
Derek Leung will team with Danny Shum’s More Than This in the Hong Kong Mile and is hopeful the Dutch Art gelding can contend strongly despite not winning since December, 2019.
“Hopefully, he can run well. He’s a big horse and he’s had only two runs this time and he keeps on improving. I hope he will be ready next week,” Leung said.
More immediately, Leung will take the ride on A Pal in the Class 3 Nathan Handicap (1400m) for Frankie Lor tomorrow.
“We were all very happy last time with the way that he won,” Leung said. “He had a good barrier and a good position and the track was good for him. I hope this time will be the same but we will see.
“Hopefully he can run well again. Last time, he was super impressive but the tempo was good for him. I hope it can be the same this time.”
Sunday’s meeting starts with the Class 5 Ashley Handicap (1200m, dirt) at 1pm.
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