Frankie Lor and David Hayes will use the Class 1 Panasonic Cup Handicap (1400m) at Sha Tin on Saturday (12 November) to gauge the LONGINES Hong Kong International Races (HKIR) prospects next month of Healthy Happy and Fantastic Treasure, respectively.

Reigning Hong Kong Champion Trainer Lor will saddle Healthy Happy (135lb) in the HK$3.465 million contest and is optimistic the six-year-old can return to the winners’ enclosure for the first time since he landed the G3 Chinese Club Challenge Cup Handicap (1400m) on 1 January.

To face eight rivals, Healthy Happy will start from barrier seven under Silvestre de Sousa, who is in the midst of a hot streak with six wins from his past 14 mounts.

“Healthy Happy’s in good form, he worked well in his gallop on Wednesday morning (9 November),” said Lor, who has 14 wins for the season. “He’s got a big weight, but if he won on Saturday maybe he can get a few more (handicap) points and then maybe we could look at Hong Kong International Races.”

Healthy Happy is currently rated 107 and is entered in the G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Mile (1600m).

Dual Hong Kong Champion Trainer Hayes will use tomorrow’s race to decide if Fantastic Treasure, rated 99, warrants pushing towards either the G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint (1200m) or the G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Mile (1600m) – or a race on the meeting’s undercard.

“The race will decide which way we go. If he wins, he’ll probably be eligible for one of the big races – if he doesn’t win, there’s an easier race for him on International Day,” Hayes said.

“I just thought he got in the wrong spot last start (when eighth behind Wellington in the G2 Premier Bowl Handicap, 1200m on 23 October) and he couldn’t pick up the good sprinters but it looked like a horse to me who was looking for more ground and the 1400m should be ideal.

“His trackwork and trials have been very good, so I think he’ll run a good race. His final gallop for this race on Wednesday morning was very good.”

Fantastic Treasure (127lb) is drawn in gate two for Matthew Chadwick.

Angus Chung takes the mount on Tony Cruz’s last-start winner Circuit Stellar (115lb), hopeful of capitalising on a Class 1 opportunity.

“The horse performed well last start, I’m not sure what level he can get to and the move to Class 1 will be a tough challenge for him,” the apprentice said. “He has drawn a good barrier so hopefully he can sit behind the leaders and put in a good performance.

“It’s good to have a ride (at Class 1 level) and to win that would be very good for me. Just to have a chance to feel the bigger races is good for me. Things have been pretty good so far, I’m glad to get some winners (six wins and 13 placings from 68 rides) and hopefully I will continue to get opportunities from owners and trainers.”

Saturday’s (12 November) 10-race card at Sha Tin starts with the Class 4 Panashop Handicap (1200m) at 1pm.