Latest news with #FrankieLor
South China Morning Post
2 days ago
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Frankie Lor backs brilliance of Purton: ‘Zac always rides this horse better than the other jockeys'
Frankie Lor Fu-chuen is backing the brilliance of Zac Purton to be the difference when Bottomuptogether tackles Saturday's Class Two HKU Business School And Faculty Of Engineering Handicap (1,200m) at Sha Tin. Bottomuptogether has compiled a strong record over 1,200m on the Sha Tin turf this season without actually winning, racing at the course and distance five times for four seconds and a third. A galloper who likes to race on pace, Bottomuptogether will have to overcome barrier 10 of 11 if he is to add to his wins under Purton at Happy Valley and on the Sha Tin dirt this season. 'This time he has drawn 10, which is a little bit awkward because inside him he has some horses who are quite fast,' said Lor. 'It will depend on how he jumps. If he jumps better than the others maybe he can lead, but if someone goes crazy in front maybe he can take a sit. There's the four-timer! 🙌 Bottomuptogether wins the Class 2 Kowloon Bay Handicap easily to seal @zpurton's Sunday quartet at Sha Tin... #LoveRacing | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) April 20, 2025 'I think Zac knows the horse more than me. Zac always rides this horse better than the other jockeys, so I'll just leave it to him.' Bottomuptogether must carry 133lb in a hot Class Two contest featuring the likes of Raging Blizzard, Wunderbar and Gorgeous Win. After three Sha Tin turf wins under Purton to begin his career last season – two at 1,000m and one at 1,200m – saw Bottomuptogether's rating jump 27 points to 79, the four-year-old has pushed onto triple figures this campaign. While Lor feels it's been a slow burn for the son of Shamus Award, he hopes the 102-rated speedster has Group racing in his future. 'I hope so, because he's a horse who has improved slowly, slowly. He just gets a little bit better each time. He's still young, he's only four years old, so I hope next season we can try for Group Races,' said Lor, pointing to the fact Bottomuptogether's full-brother and stablemate, Beauty Live, has won at a mile in Class Two. Ice cold from the Zac-Man! 🥶 FUN N FUN TOGETHER dominates from start to finish to win at Sha Tin under the champion jockey @zpurton. #HKRacing | @FCLOR_RACING — Hong Kong Racing (@HongKong_Racing) May 18, 2025 'His full-brother is Beauty Live so hopefully he can handle a bit longer in time, but at this stage he's still a bit keen in the early stages so I'll leave him at 1,200m until he can relax more.' Also among Lor's eight-strong Sha Tin hand is Fun N Fun Together, a last-start winner who will also carry 133lb under Purton. Drawn gate five for the Class Four HKU Faculties Of Dentistry And Social Sciences Handicap (1,200m) on the all-weather track, Fun N Fun Together is another who likes to set the tone from the front. 'If he can lead by himself he is better. We have drawn five and I hope he can do the same – just jump and roll in front. He's in good form,' Lor said of his four-year-old. Sitting on 44 successes for the campaign – two behind last season's haul – Lor also saddles up Money Tycoon, Dreaming Winner, Musang King, Lucky Archangel, Money Catcher and Victory Moments.
South China Morning Post
5 days ago
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Derek Leung ‘chasing hard' as he looks to keep good times rolling on Voyage Samurai
Derek Leung Ka-chun hopes Voyage Samurai can overcome his wide draw as he bids for career win number six in the Class Two Cheung Sha Handicap (1,650m) at Happy Valley on Wednesday night. The 36-year-old has been on board for all five of Voyage Samurai's victories, most recently when the pair dominated from gate to wire to win a 1,600m Class Two at Sha Tin in April. As with most of Voyage Samurai's wins, Leung controlled the fractions to a tee before unleashing a powerful turn of foot from the Dissident galloper to fend off any late bursts from his rivals. Frankie Lor Fu-chuen's five-year-old will need to do it the hard way on his maiden Happy Valley run, drawing gate seven of nine, but Leung is confident of bouncing back from a below-par run at Sha Tin last time where he had excuses. Top win, Voyage Samurai! Derek Leung steers Frankie Lor's ultra-consistent charge to a fifth career win at Sha Tin... 👏#LoveRacing | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) April 6, 2025 'I think 1,800m probably stretched him a bit last time and he has a bad draw to overcome this time,' said Leung. 'He has trialled well though and has been performing well. 'His first run at the Valley won't be easy because of the draw but I hope he can win again. It won't be easy but he's consistent and not fully exposed yet.' Leung has several strong chances on the city circuit's Wednesday card, including Prestige Always in the Class Three Sheung Shui Handicap (1,650m). The Pierre Ng Pang-chi-trained four-year-old posted his best run since a win on seasonal reappearance when third over track and distance last time – his first attempt at the 1,650m trip. HK Racing News Get updates direct to your inbox Sign up Best Bets Racing News By registering you agree to our T&Cs & Privacy Policy Error: Please enter a valid email. The email address is already in use. Please login to subscribe. Error, please try again later. THANK YOU You are one the list. Prestige Always closes out the card at Sha Tin as the second leg of a Pierre Ng-@zpurton double after the victory of Fighting Machine! ✌️#LoveRacing | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) September 28, 2024 And in the concluding Class Three Cheung Sheung Handicap (1,200m), Leung rides Very Grateful for Cody Mo Wai-kit, who made a promising debut over course and distance last month. 'Prestige Good ran well last time over this course and distance but he also has a bad draw to overcome,' said Leung. 'Thankfully Very Grateful has drawn the inside barrier. His debut was very good and hopefully I can use the draw to get a good position. He will hopefully improve from his first start.' Leung sits on the 28-winner mark for the campaign and is eight behind Matthew Poon Ming-fai, who leads the way in the Tony Cruz Award standings for the leading home-grown rider. Jockey Derek Leung has enjoyed his trips to Happy Valley in recent weeks. He also sits three winners behind Matthew Chadwick in the race for second and with both of those riders suspended on Wednesday, Leung is not giving up hope of a late surge to overhaul them – no matter how tough the going is. 'I'm eight winners behind, but you never know – I'm chasing hard,' laughed Leung. 'I still have my eyes on the prize and with the great support of trainers and owners, I will just keep trying to ride as many winners as possible.' The city circuit has been a happy hunting ground for Leung recently, with the rider winning the Jockey Challenge at two of the past three meetings. Two meetings ago Leung rode a brilliant treble headlined by the last-gasp success of Gracious Express, while his prior Jockeys Challenge win saw him pinch the spoils despite not riding a winner.
