The Road to the Derby is beginning to take clearer shape as the third instalment of the Hong Kong Jockey Club’s series turns the spotlight on two progressive performers from the Frankie Lor stable, with Numbers and Regal Gem both pressing their claims ahead of the 2025/26 Four-Year-Old Classic Series.
With less than a month remaining until the HK$13 million Hong Kong Classic Mile on 1 February, and the 149th running of the BMW Hong Kong Derby set for 22 March, the Road to the Derby conversation is gaining momentum. Ratings will be crucial, and both gallopers have already done enough to ensure they remain firmly in the mix should connections decide to pursue the Classic path.
Numbers, in particular, appears tailor-made for the demands of the Four-Year-Old series after delivering a commanding all-the-way success in the Class 2 Long Ke Handicap over 2000 metres on 27 December. Sent straight to the lead by Derek Leung, the gelding controlled the early tempo before lifting the intensity through the middle stages, producing a sustained surge that ultimately saw him fend off Winning Wing by a length.
That performance was notable not just for the result, but for the authority with which it was achieved. Numbers carved out a sharp second sectional, stopping the clock well inside standard between the 1600m and 1200m markers, before maintaining pressure to the line — a hallmark of a runner with genuine stamina reserves.
By Tivaci out of the Zabeel mare Sheezababe, Numbers arrived in Hong Kong with a staying profile already well established, having finished runner-up in the Group 1 Queensland Derby over 2400 metres last June. His trainer believes those traits could again come to the fore as the Road to the Derby unfolds.
“It was a nice win,” Lor said. “The 2000 metres was good and I think 2400 metres will still be okay.”
The trainer drew comparisons with former stable star Dark Dream, another Queensland Derby performer who went on to place in the Hong Kong Derby, suggesting Numbers may follow a similar developmental arc.
Following his latest victory, Numbers secured a Private Purchase Bonus for his ownership group and climbed sharply in the ratings to 90, having already finished third on his Hong Kong debut at Happy Valley earlier in the month. Lor confirmed the gelding is likely to have one more preparatory run before stepping into Classic company, with the Hong Kong Classic Cup over 1800 metres on 1 March emerging as a preferred option.
“Maybe we will skip the Classic Mile because the 1600 metres will probably be a bit short for him,” Lor explained. “The Classic Cup could be better.”
Stablemate Regal Gem presents a different profile but remains an intriguing contender within the broader Road to the Derby narrative. Currently rated 83, the Northern Hemisphere three-year-old has built his reputation around Happy Valley, where he has recorded three victories over 1200 metres from nine Hong Kong starts.
Regal Gem is presently joint leader in the DBS x Manulife Million Challenge and may continue to focus on that series, which concludes in early February, rather than shifting immediately to Sha Tin’s Classic features. His most recent outing, however, offered encouragement beyond sprint distances when he finished sixth over the extended Happy Valley mile, despite racing without cover throughout.
“For me, 1600 metres should be no problem,” Lor said. “Last time he had no cover and still finished only a couple of lengths from the winner, so it wasn’t too bad.”
A decision on Regal Gem’s immediate future is expected after his next scheduled appearance, but Lor confirmed all options remain open as the Road to the Derby continues to evolve and the Classic field gradually takes shape.
With both horses progressing at the right time, Frankie Lor’s stable appears well placed to play a meaningful role as Hong Kong’s premier four-year-old series draws closer.
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