Big Party steps up to Group 3 company in Bauhinia Sprint Trophy

Hong Kong bettors adore Big Party, who will have his group stakes debut in Sunday’s Group 3 Bauhinia Sprint Trophy at five furlongs on turf at Sha Tin Racecourse.

Big Party, trained by Frankie Lor, has been favored in all eight of his starts since his career debut in October 2018, a span that includes four wins. Big Party rebounded from a fifth-place finish in a minor handicap at six furlongs at Sha Tin on Nov. 17 to win a six-furlong minor handicap at Happy Valley Racecourse on Dec. 18, enhancing his credentials for Sunday’s race.

The difference was race tactics. Big Party was held up behind runners in his latest race, but ran freely in the Nov. 17 race. There are seven starters in the $417,367 Bauhinia Sprint Trophy, and Big Party will perform best if he can race behind a rival in the early furlongs, Lor told Hong Kong Jockey Club publicity on Friday.

:: Hong Kong: Free PPs, picks, analysis, replays, and live streaming

Big Party, a 4-year-old Australian-bred gelding, was fifth in his only other start at five furlongs, in his debut. Sunday, he will be ridden by leading rider Joao Moreira. The race is run on a straightaway course.

“If he gets cover, the 1,000 meters should not be a problem,” Lor said. “First up last season, over 1,000 meters, he had no cover and finished fifth. We saw it again first start this season at 1,200 meters. He jumped fast and had not cover all the way.

“Last time, I asked Joao to try to get some cover and he was able to do it.”

Big Party could stalk Premiere, the winner of four consecutive races in the fall of 2017 and early 2018, who has led throughout at times.

Big Party has the lowest weight assignment, at 118 pounds, well below topweight Regency Legend, who will carry 132 pounds.

Trained by Danny Shum, Regency Legend won his first four starts in Hong Kong before finishing 10th in the Group 2 Jockey Club Sprint at Sha Tin on Nov. 17 and last of 12 in the Group 1 Hong Kong Sprint at Sha Tin on Dec. 8.

Regency Legend has not raced at five furlongs in Hong Kong. In New Zealand in 2017, Regency Legend won the first two starts of his career at five furlongs in races for 2-year-olds when racing under the name Espumoso.