Francis Lui posts 1,000th Hong Kong win with Speed Dragon’s G3 January Cup triumph

By Leo Schlink

Francis Lui soared into rarified territory with Speed Dragon’s spectacular G3 January Cup Handicap (1800m) victory at Happy Valley on Wednesday night (14 January), becoming only the sixth trainer in Hong Kong, China racing history to saddle 1,000 wins or more in the jurisdiction.

Renowned as the ultimate quiet achiever, Lui joined John Moore (1,735), John Size (1,629), Tony Cruz (1,583), Caspar Fownes (1,196) and Ricky Yiu (1,082) in one of the city’s most exclusive clubs when Speed Dragon (117lb) charged from last on the home turn under Lyle Hewitson to score by half a length from Huge Wave (116lb) and last year’s January Cup victor Helene Feeling (125lb) in 1m 48s.

Hong Kong champion trainer in 2023/24 and famed as the horseman behind 10-time Group 1 winner Golden Sixty’s supreme career, Lui has been involved in Hong Kong racing for more than 50 years, graduating from The Hong Kong Jockey Club’s Apprentice Jockeys’ School and riding 36 winners between 1975 and 1982, and later becoming an assistant trainer before receiving his own licence to train in 1996/97.

Cap Ferrat last season gave Lui a second BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m) trophy, five years after Golden Sixty prevailed in 2020, adding to a stable honour roll which includes the Group 1 achievement of Lucky Bubbles and a string of other prestigious races.

“I feel very happy. It’s a big number (1,000) and it’s not easy. Golden Sixty is special, but every winner to me is very important and for the owners,” Lui said.

Referring to Speed Dragon’s win, Lui said: “Always these races, a light weight is favourable. It all depends on the programme, but I think he’ll race at both Happy Valley and Sha Tin.”

Needing two winners entering the meeting to reach the 1,000-win milestone, Lui struck with Winning Money (126lb) in the Class 4 Monaco Handicap (1200m) under Zac Purton before Hewitson’s unflustered display on Speed Dragon.

Hewitson, who posted his first Group race winner in Hong Kong, said: “I’m really happy that I could get it done. I’ve been touched off in a few Group races and most of them were for Francis, too, so to get the nose in front in such good fashion tonight, I’m thoroughly enjoying it.

“I got shuffled back to last on the turn but thankfully that was the section where they picked up the speed and I got a track into it and he quickened so well, I had to wait for the gap and before it had any chance to close, he was through and he won with authority.

“So, it was full of merit and a horse that is just thriving here.”

Jimmy Ting notched his 200th winner as a trainer when Blazing Beam (133lb) triumphed in the Class 5 Meteorites Handicap (1200m). Fresh from the Class 2 success of leading Four-Year-Old Classic Series contender Little Paradise at Sha Tin on 11 January, Ting said: “Before the race, I didn’t think about the fact it was my 200th winner.

“Of course, I’m really happy, there has been lots of hard work from my team. It is a good achievement. He has been a bit of a tricky horse, so this win was a bit of a surprise. I think the switch to Class 5 helped. He has been slowly maturing as well.”

Fortunate Son (135lb) made it two course and distance wins for the season with success in the Class 4 Yummy Handicap under Hugh Bowman for Cody Mo, who sealed a race-to-race double when Lucky Planet (135lb) blitzed his rivals in the Class 4 Croisette Handicap (1200m) under Matthew Poon after jumping lengths clear of his rivals at the start.

“He’s always quick out of the gate, but sometimes too quick because sometimes he can be faster than the gates opening,” Poon said. “So, I just have to focus on the timing and make sure he’s not too soon to jump and today, he had the perfect timing and he flew out of the gates.

“It was a big help because he saved energy early and he could last until the winning post carrying the big weight. I would like to thank Mr Leung and his family because they support me since I started, so I’m really happy to ride winners for them.”

Fresh from a brilliant winning ride on Young Emperor at Sha Tin last Sunday, Luke Ferraris produced another ground-saving display on Fortune Star (123lb) for Mark Newnham in the Class 4 Yacht Club Handicap (1650m).

“It’s good, we went through something of a quiet patch, so it’s good to get the ball rolling again,” Ferraris said. “Physically, he’s there and he’s strong but mentally, he’s like a two-year-old.”

Newnham extended his lead at the top of the trainers’ championship when Max Que (122lb) comfortably accounted for his rivals in the Class 3 APM Monaco Cup Handicap (1650m) Purton. Newnham has 32 wins for the season and leads Fownes (30) and David Hayes (26), who scored with Storm Rider (132lb) in the Class 2 Cannes Handicap (1200m) under Bowman.

Fownes teamed with Alexis Badel to clinch the finale, the Class 3 Saint Tropez Handicap (1200m), when Mighty Commander powered from the back of the field on the home turn to post his third course victory.

Hong Kong racing continues at Sha Tin on Sunday (18 January).