Frankie Lor is set to make a determined bid for his first Group 1 Hong Kong Gold Cup (2000m) victory at Sha Tin this Sunday (23 February). The esteemed trainer will field a strong two-horse challenge in the prestigious HK$13 million race, with HAPPY TOGETHER and SWORD POINT carrying his hopes. Despite the presence of formidable competitors, including last-start Group 1 winner VOYAGE BUBBLE, Lor remains confident in his runners’ ability to deliver competitive performances.
Happy Together will continue his partnership with French jockey Alexis Badel, while Italian rider Andrea Atzeni will take the reins of Sword Point for the first time. The race serves as the second leg of the Triple Crown, adding further significance to the contest. Lor has expressed optimism about Happy Together’s chances, emphasizing the gelding’s consistency and suitability for the distance.
“I anticipate another solid performance from Happy Together. He has proven time and again that 1800m and 2000m suit him best. He always finishes strongly, and I expect him to do the same in the straight this time,” Lor stated. The horse previously demonstrated his ability over this course and distance when finishing fourth in last year’s Group 1 FWD QEII Cup on yielding ground.
This season, Happy Together has maintained a high level of form in Group races, consistently finishing close to top-class opposition. Notably, he put in a respectable effort in the Hong Kong Mile, where he finished fifth. Lor remains confident that his charge can once again be in contention this Sunday, given his sustained form and fighting spirit.
Meanwhile, Lor has confirmed that Sword Point will soon embark on an international campaign, with a scheduled trip to Dubai following the Hong Kong Gold Cup. The American Pharoah gelding is being aimed at the Group 2 Godolphin Mile (1600m) on dirt at Meydan, set to take place on 5 April.
“After this race, there aren’t many local options for him. He’s a horse that performs better on dirt, so Dubai is a natural target. He’ll have a brief break before making the journey,” Lor explained.
Lor is pleased with Sword Point’s preparation leading up to the weekend and acknowledges that, while the competition will be stiff, his runner should still be able to make an impact. Despite finishing outside the top spots in his last start on turf in the Group 3 Centenary Vase Handicap (1800m), where he attempted to lead all the way before fading in the straight, Lor believes Sword Point can still be competitive at this level.
As Sword Point prepares for his fourth Group 1 outing, Lor remains undecided about the jockey booking for the Dubai assignment. He is focused on ensuring the horse is in peak condition for Sunday before making further decisions regarding the international campaign.
The Sha Tin race meeting on 23 February is set to begin at 1:00 PM with the Class 4 Citi Wealth Handicap (1400m), kicking off an exciting day of racing action.
