Trainer Frankie Lor is buoyant Money Catcher can take another step forward this season as he readies for Sunday’s HK$5.35 million Group 2 Sha Tin Trophy Handicap (1600m) at Sha Tin.
The six-year-old returns first-up after steadily climbing the ranks last term, where he rose from a 95-rating to be Group 1-placed behind Hong Kong’s standout duo – Golden Sixty and Romantic Warrior.
Targeting December’s HK$118 million Hong Kong International Races with Money Catcher, specifically the HK$36 million Group 1 Hong Kong Cup (2000m), Lor hopes a lengthy break at Conghua and two barrier trials have his earner of HK$19.203 million feeling good.
“His form looks great. The 1600 metres might be a little bit too short, but he’s first-up and I think it should be ok. I hope he can improve again this season, he’s a one-paced horse, sometimes it depends on the pace and the jockey to determine how he performs,” Lor said.
The Ferlax gelding finished third in the 2022 Hong Kong Cup at odds of +4300, while Romantic Warrior won the race with Japan’s Danon The Kid finishing second. Later that season he finished third in the 2023 Group 1 Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup (2000m) won by Golden Sixty.
“I think if he can, he’ll be in the Hong Kong Cup again. The 2400 metres maybe a little too long but the 2000 is ok,” Lor said. “I hope he can still improve a little bit, if he does improve a little bit then it would be better. The 2000 metres, well, we have Romantic Warrior but we don’t know what his form will be like after travelling overseas.”
Money Catcher’s two wins in Hong Kong came in the 2022 Group 3 Sa Sa Ladies’ Purse Handicap (1800m) and 2023 Group 3 January Cup Handicap (1800m). Alexis Badel will ride the New Zealand-bred this weekend.
The lightly-raced King Invincible is one of three entrants for Lor at Happy Valley on Wednesday night. The four-year-old has jockey Zac Purton engaged from barrier ten.
“He’s a nice horse, but I think the pace should be fast. So maybe he jumps, sits midfield and waits for his chance. I don’t want to push him in the run, so that he can finish,” Lor said.
The 52-rater has placed once in Hong Kong from five starts last season, following which he has had corrective throat surgery before logging an impressive first-past-the-post trial effort under Purton last month.
Sword Point stepped out ib Tuesday morning to trial on the dirt for Lor at Sha Tin. The chestnut gelding has now finished first in two trials ahead of his impending return.
“He’s doing well. He’ll resume in a Class 2 over 1800 metres (on 22 October), then hopefully the (Group 3) Sa Sa Ladies’ Purse Handicap (1800m) and then the (Group 2) Jockey Club Cup (2000m) – hopefully get into the Hong Kong Cup, I think,” Lor said.
The American Pharoah five-year-old won two races last season and finished runner-up to Straight Arron in the 2023 Group 3 Queen Mother Memorial Cup Handicap (2400m) last May.
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