Frankie Lor chases more early-season G3 success in National Day Cup Handicap as milestone looms

By Leo Schlink

Frankie Lor hopes to add the G3 National Day Cup Handicap (1000m) at Sha Tin on Sunday (1 October) to last weekend’s G3 Celebration Cup Handicap success when he saddles Adios and Rewarding Together in the HK$4.2 million sprint feature.

Needing only one more win to reach the 400-win milestone in Hong Kong, the 2021/22 champion trainer is optimistic Adios or Rewarding Together can prevail.

“I hope so, I always try,” Lor said, contemplating Group 3 triumphs across successive weekends after Healthy Happy’s G3 Celebration Cup Handicap (1400m) win last Sunday (24 September).

“There wasn’t much between Adios and Rewarding Together last time, so I hope they both keep the good form. Adios is good. He likes a firm track and last time it was a little bit rainy, so I think he will appreciate a firm track this time. I think 1000m on a firm track is good for him.

“I think Adios, being a bit younger, has a slightly better chance but Rewarding Together is racing well.”

Lor’s pair – who will both carry 117lb – faces Sight Success (135lb), Stoltz (124lb), Kurpany (119lb), Whizz Kid (115lb) and We Are Hero (115lb) in the five-furlong dash.

Adios and Rewarding Together opened their 2023/24 campaigns in the Class 1 HKSAR Chief Executive’s Cup Handicap (1200m), finishing third and fourth, respectively, on yielding ground behind Victor The Winner and Lucky Sweynesse.

Lor was heartened by the performance of the pair and believes the predicted weather on Sunday will play to his string’s hopes.

“I think they will both like the firm track,” he said.

Francis Lui hopes a 1000m barrier trial at Conghua on 18 September will provide a successful foundation for Stoltz to post his second Sha Tin victory as the consistent six-year-old resumes under Zac Purton.

Chasing a third consecutive win, Stoltz has won five races in Hong Kong – all over 1000m – and Lui hopes the gelding can again perform at Sha Tin.

“He’s in good form. He had a barrier trial at Conghua and he went well. This distance at the weekend is his best and he should be competitive,” Lui said.

Rated 118, John Size-trained Sight Success returns under Hugh Bowman in search of a ninth Hong Kong win after finishing third in the Conghua trial behind Alacrity and Stoltz 10 days ago. A dual Group 1 placegetter, Sight Success represents the class factor in the field but has to concede a minimum of 11 pounds – and up to 20 pounds – to his rivals.

Sunday’s (1 October) 10-race card kicks off with the Class 5 Shenyang Handicap (1800m) at 1pm.