Frankie Lor Fu-chuen will consider backing up Stormy Grove on Thursday while connections contemplate paying a late entry fee for the Hong Kong Derby (2,000m) after his blistering victory at Sha Tin on Saturday.
Capping Lor’s 60th birthday celebrations in style on Saturday, Stormy Grove was promoted from first reserve after China Win was scratched on the eve of the Class Three TVB Miss Hong Kong Pageant Handicap (1,600m) and took full advantage to snare his first Hong Kong triumph.
Taken back to last by Harry Bentley from barrier 14, the Australian import unleashed a powerful turn of foot to mow down leader Without Compare by three-quarters of a length.
While he doesn’t hold an entry for next month’s Derby and was only rated 68 before Saturday’s victory, Lor said owners Lily Chan Li-lei and Marc Chan will weigh up paying a late entry fee for the city’s most prized race.
“The horse was only rated 60-something, so I talked to the owners and said ‘maybe we don’t think at this moment we should enter him for the Derby’. If his points go up, then maybe we will,” Lor said of Stormy Grove, whose rating should rise to at least 75.
“Like today, if he can relax and have a strong finish, maybe we will enter him for the Derby.”
The second stage of Derby entries close on Sunday morning, with the late entry fee costing $104,000, while a fee of $260,000 is required to be included in the third stage which closes on March 9.
Stormy Grove could get another opportunity to lift his rating if he backs up in a Class Three 1,400m race at the Lunar New Year meeting, with Lor to make a final decision by Sunday morning when the final fields are released.
The veteran handler was pleasantly surprised by the Toronado gelding’s big performance to win from last on Saturday.
“This time was a big surprise because he was at the back and came past them,” said Lor.
“He raced left-handed two times [in Australia] and came to Hong Kong and we race right-handed, so we needed plenty of time to teach him how to change legs. He keeps improving.”
Stormy Grove dented Derby aspirations for many hopefuls in Saturday’s race, which featured 10 entrants for the feature.
They included Endued, who finished a distant third, and Lucky Sam Gor, who should have finished much closer than fourth after being held up at a crucial stage in the straight.
Stormy Grove helped Lor clinch a Sha Tin double after Run Run Smart led all the way to defy his $35.35 quote in the second section of the Class Four TVB Scoop Handicap (1,400m).
Sent straight to the front by Derek Leung Ka-chun, the Irish import held his rivals at bay to beat Amazing Duck by three-quarters of a length.
It was a bounce-back performance after he could only manage 10th and ninth in his previous two starts.
“Derek was able to set his own pace and the second sectional was 22.1 seconds, so it was quite slow and that meant he was able to keep on strongly in the straight,” said Lor.
“The owner said we can try Sha Tin again, because he’s raced here before and has run OK. He looked to have improved since the last time we tried him here and that has proved to be the case.”
