Frankie Lor hopes lightning can strike twice in the same setting as he prepares to unleash Big Party and Fat Turtle against crack Japanese speedster Danon Smash in the HK$18 million G1 Chairman’s Sprint Prize (1200m) at Sha Tin on Sunday (25 April).
Lor combined with Karis Teetan to claim the FWD Champions Day feature in 2020 when Mr Stunning prevailed at 21-1 and he hopes Big Party, to be ridden by Teetan, and Fat Turtle (Antoine Hamelin) can similarly reverse recent form to successfully contend at generous odds.
“Both horses were a little bit disappointing last time but they’ve come back since and everything looks fine with them,” Lor said.
“It’s hard to say whether they’ve got a really good chance but if they produce their best, they can run well – we’re hoping they can do that.”
Twice victorious over the course and distance, Big Party has finished in the money in Pattern races five times from seven attempts in the 2020/21 season but he has not won since 29 December 2019, when triumphant over 1000m at Sha Tin.
However, the Exceed And Excel gelding finished third behind Hot King Prawn in the G1 Centenary Sprint Cup (1200m) on 24 January this year before failing with successive eighths behind Wellington on 13 March and Amazing Star on 5 April.