After clean-sweeping last season’s Four-Year-Old Classic Series with the brilliant Golden Sixty, trainer Francis Lui is looking to Lucky Patch (117lb) this time around and Sunday’s (10 January) Class 2 Choi Hung Handicap (1400m) will see him lay out his credentials for a Hong Kong Classic Mile tilt in 16 days’ time.
“He’s good – he’s held his condition, he has a good draw and hopefully he can perform,” Lui said of the Australian import.
The El Roca gelding, formerly known as Paleontologist was a two-time winner in Australia prior to export, and has since raced three times in Hong Kong for two wins on the dirt and turf, including a comfortable Class 3 success last start over the course and distance.
But this Sunday, he’ll take to Class 2 for the first time against a number of Four-Year-Old Classic Series hopefuls, some with impressive international resumes, including the ex-Aidan O’Brien-trained Russian Emperor (123lb), former Godolphin trainee Enrich Delight (126lb), British import Tsar (116lb) as well as Excellent Proposal (132lb) and Beauty Joy (116lb).
“Based on how he won his last two races – I think he can handle Class 2 and he still has room to improve,” the handler said.
The New Zealand-bred kicked off his career with a debut win on the dirt and a rating of 69 and now, with three runs under his belt, sits on a mark of 83.