Francis Lui’s quiet excellence reached a historic summit at Happy Valley on Wednesday night, 14 January, as Speed Dragon produced a stirring late surge to land the G3 January Cup Handicap, delivering the trainer his landmark 1,000th career victory in Hong Kong racing. It was a moment steeped in achievement rather than noise, befitting a horseman whose career has been built on patience, precision and longevity.
Run over 1800 metres under lights, the January Cup Handicap unfolded at a genuine tempo before turning into a test of timing and balance in the home straight. Settled at the rear for much of the journey, Speed Dragon carried just 117lb and was still last swinging into the turn. What followed was a composed and confident finish, with Lyle Hewitson threading his way through the field before the gelding quickened sharply to take command late.
Speed Dragon crossed the line in 1 minute 48 seconds, holding off Huge Wave by half a length, with last year’s winner Helene Feeling filling third place under a bigger weight. The performance underlined the advantage of a lighter impost in such contests and showcased the horse’s growing adaptability at both Happy Valley and Sha Tin.
For Francis Lui, the victory carried significance far beyond the race itself. The 2023–24 Hong Kong champion trainer became only the sixth in the jurisdiction’s history to reach four figures, joining an elite group that includes John Moore, John Size, Tony Cruz, Caspar Fownes and Ricky Yiu. It was a milestone achieved through decades of involvement in the sport, beginning as a graduate of The Hong Kong Jockey Club’s Apprentice Jockeys’ School before progressing through the ranks as a rider, assistant trainer and, since 1996–97, a licence holder in his own right.
Lui’s training career has been defined by consistency and class, highlighted by the extraordinary exploits of Golden Sixty, a ten-time Group 1 winner, as well as major successes with Lucky Bubbles and dual Derby hero Cap Ferrat. Yet the trainer was quick to emphasise that each success carries equal weight.
“I feel very happy. It’s a big number and it’s not easy,” Lui said. “Golden Sixty is special, but every winner is important, especially for the owners.”
Hewitson, who secured his first Group race victory in Hong Kong aboard Speed Dragon, spoke with visible satisfaction after the race. He credited the gelding’s turn of foot and composure in traffic, noting how the race unfolded perfectly once the tempo lifted approaching the straight. The victory marked a deserved breakthrough after several narrow defeats at similar level.
Earlier in the evening, Lui had already moved to the brink of the milestone with Winning Money, who prevailed in the Class 4 Monaco Handicap over 1200 metres under Zac Purton. That result set the stage for the feature race and ensured the January Cup Handicap would be remembered as a defining chapter in the trainer’s long and decorated career.
Elsewhere on the card, Jimmy Ting recorded the 200th winner of his training career when Blazing Beam struck in the Class 5 Meteorites Handicap. The result followed recent higher-grade success and reflected steady progress from a horse still learning his craft.
Fortunate Son continued a productive season with a second course-and-distance win in the Class 4 Yummy Handicap for trainer Cody Mo, while Mo completed a double when Lucky Planet dominated the Class 4 Croisette Handicap after an electric start under Matthew Poon.
Luke Ferraris delivered another polished ride on Fortune Star in the Class 4 Yacht Club Handicap, conserving ground throughout before asserting late for trainer Mark Newnham. Newnham further strengthened his lead in the trainers’ standings when Max Que scored comfortably in the Class 3 APM Monaco Cup Handicap, maintaining his advantage over Caspar Fownes and David Hayes.
Fownes closed the meeting on a positive note as Mighty Commander finished strongly from the back of the field to claim the Class 3 Saint Tropez Handicap, rounding out a competitive and high-quality midweek fixture. Hong Kong racing continues at Sha Tin on Sunday, 18 January.
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