Pierre Ng hopes to stave off Francis Lui for trainers’ championship at season finale

By Leo Schlink

Bidding to win the Hong Kong trainers’ championship in only his second season, Pierre Ng is pinning his hopes on four key runners as the young horseman braces for Francis Lui’s last-ditch challenge at Sunday’s (14 July) season finale at Sha Tin.

Clinging to a 67-66 lead over Lui after 87 meetings, Ng will field nine runners in seven races, while Lui will saddle 10 runners in nine races. Neither trainer has previously won the championship.

Ng, who served as Lui’s assistant trainer for two years before embarking on his own career as a trainer in 2022/23, has the advantage of currently having more second and third placings than Lui, which would tilt the championship in his favour in the event of a tie.

Ng, 40, will saddle Duke Wai, I Can, Bits Superstar, Beauty Waves, Medic Elite, First Love, Fighting Machine, Prestige Always and Roman Crown, while Lui is represented by Call Me Glorious, Chancheng Glory, Packing Hermod, Packing Treadmill, Forever Glorious, Packing Angel, Happy Park, Steps Ahead, Holy Lake and Patch Of Theta.

Ng rates Fighting Machine, who jumps from barrier 10 in the Class 4 Medic Kingdom Handicap (1400m) under Zac Purton, as his strongest chance of the meeting.

“I think Fighting Machine is our best chance. He ran brilliant last time and just got a bit unlucky in the straight. He finished off well so hopefully he can get a bit more luck this time,” Ng said, referring to the gelding’s fifth to Mighty Strength over this course and distance on 1 July.

Veteran Duke Wai (132lb) contests the Class 2 Joy And Fun Handicap (1200m) for Hugh Bowman and clashes with Lui-trained Packing Treadmill (135lb) and Call Me Glorious (119lb). Ng will also be represented in the race by Beauty Waves (118lb) with Alexis Badel to take the mount from barrier two.

“Duke Wai ran tremendous last time and he was a bit unlucky against a better runner (Copartner Prance) and for Beauty Waves it's his first time in Class 2,” Ng said. “Obviously, he's been placing in Class 3, but he needs to show a bit more improvement to jump up.

“I don't think Sha Tin will be a problem because he's been running well there. Hopefully he can switch off a little bit and run on well.”

Ng hopes Bits Superstar can reprise impressive trial form and overcome barrier 14 under Karis Teetan when the former Australian galloper debuts in the Class 3 Pingwu Spark Handicap (1200m).

“He's trialled well. His trial last week was brilliant (5 July) and the previous one he was just getting there. It looks like he has got some potential and hopefully he can show something in his first run,” Ng said

“On debut I'm looking for, to be honest, top-five or so and prize money. I'll be happy with that. We are running against Packing Hermod and he's a super horse.”

Formerly known as Capitalisation when trained in Australia by Ben, Will & JD Hayes, Bits Superstar won a Moe Maiden over 1100m in October, 2023.

I Can (117lb) will chase a second win this season and his first at Sha Tin when the four-year-old contests the Class 3 Sight Winner Handicap (1600m) from barrier 13 under Andrea Atzeni.

“He's very consistent and he's been a bit unlucky with the draw. Now at Sha Tin, I don't think will be a problem for him and we can try and get the bonus for the owners,” Ng said.

Ng finished 10th in last season’s championship with 41 wins behind 12-time champion trainer John Size (79 wins), while Lui was runner-up with a career-high 67 victories.

Ng has led this season’s standings since 5 November, building a 16-win buffer, before Lui snatched the lead on 15 June. Ng since reclaimed the ascendancy and holds a slender lead with only 11 races left in the 2023/24 season.

Sunday’s (14 July) season finale at Sha Tin starts with the Class 5 Mr Award Handicap (1200m) at 4pm.