Hong Kong Champion Trainer (2021/22) Frankie Lor is buoyant of a return to form for Healthy Happy when the Zoustar gelding lines up in Sunday’s (25 June) HK$3.9 million G3 Premier Cup Handicap (1400m) at Sha Tin following a brief freshen up at Conghua.

“He’s good. I gave him a break and let him go to Conghua – he trialled once there and he performed good,” Lor said.

Consistent all season, Healthy Happy dipped well below his best to finish a distant last in April’s G1 FWD Champions Mile (1600m) behind Golden Sixty – a performance Lor is optimistic can be reversed, even against a small but formidable quintet entered to run: Beauty Eternal, Beauty Joy, Red Lion, Circuit Stellar and Kurpany.

“There’s a few quite strong horses, Beauty Eternal and Beauty Joy as well as Red Lion – these three are strong,” Lor said. “You don’t know though, if you have good form anything can happen.”

Victorious in the 2021 Hong Kong Classic Cup (1800m), Healthy Happy – currently rated 108 in Hong Kong – has maintained a consistent level of racing throughout his career, also taking success in the 2022 G3 Chinese Club Challenge Cup Handicap (1400m).

“At this moment it looks like 1400 metres is his best distance. Over a mile you can face better horses, so I think Group 3 and 1400 metres should be better for him,” Lor said.

The six-year-old on-pacer has twice placed at Group 3 level this term over Sunday’s course and distance. He also held on for fourth in the G2 Chairman’s Trophy (1600m) in early April, finishing just over a length behind the Group 1-winning California Spangle.

“His form is good. I think he should run a good race, you just don’t know, there’s only six runners. Derek Leung will ride,” Lor said.

Trailing his former mentor John Size by six wins (68-62), Lor has seven entries to his title rival’s 11 for this Sunday. With 391 career wins under his belt, Lor is closing in on the 400-win mark and is hoping to reach the superb milestone by season’s close on 16 July.

“This week Size has 11 runners and you can see a few of them can win,” he said. “I hope I can reach 400 wins before the season ends. It would be good.”

Sunday’s (25 June) fixture at Sha Tin will also see the running of the HK$3.9 million G3 Premier Plate Handicap (1800m).