Frankie Lor Fu-chuen conjured a third Classic Cup (1,800m) boilover in eight years when Stormy Grove defied his $22.25 quote to claim a powerful victory at Sha Tin on Sunday.

In a race tipped to be fought out by $2.5 favourite Little Paradise and Lor’s $3.8 chance Numbers, Stormy Grove backed up his barnstorming 1,600m triumph at his previous start to storm into contention for the HK$26 million BMW Hong Kong Derby (2,000m) on March 22.

Taken back by Harry Bentley from barrier 12, the Australian import rocketed home down the outside to comfortably account for Invincible Ibis by a length.

Lor, who also won the Classic Cup with 91-1 outsider Mission Tycoon (2019) and 21-1 chance Healthy Happy (2021), said the quick pace was the key to Stormy Grove’s upset success.

“You can see the time – 1:46.62, it was suitable for him,” said Lor.

“For me, if the pace was suitable for him, I thought he could do the same thing as last time over 1,600m. Next start is 2,000m and I think if the pace is also suitable for him, he can do the same thing.

“If he can settle like today – he settled really good and also the jockey knows the horse – then he can have a very strong finish.”

Bentley ranked victory in the second leg of the Classic Series up with his Group Two success on Tomodachi Kokoroe and pair of Group Three triumphs in Hong Kong.

“I’ve liked this horse throughout and I’ve struck up a good partnership with him,” the British jockey said.

“I was extremely impressed with the way he won last time and had to come into this race with a certain level of expectation and hope, but to do it the way he did was definitely breathtaking. He’s stepped up again and he can do the same again in the Derby.

“This ranks very highly in my wins in Hong Kong – it’s very special.”

A Geelong maiden winner from two pre-import starts, Stormy Grove broke through on his sixth local start when he stormed home from last to win a Class Three race over 1,600m on February 14.

That win prompted owners Lily Chan Li-lei and Marc Chan to throw him into the Classic Cup and pay a HK$140,000 late entry fee for the Derby.

Invincible Ibis stamped his Derby claims with a strong run from midfield to grab second, while Patch Of Cosmo also ran on powerfully to finish third.

“Solid performance – really happy with him,” jockey Hugh Bowman said of Invincible Ibis.

Lor was satisfied with Numbers’ performance to run fourth after he worked hard to move forward from gate 11 to eventually lead just before the 1,000m.

“My other horse Numbers still ran good. You can see he went a little bit quick and he still finished not too bad in fourth,” Lor said.

Little Paradise, a popular favourite after his stunning Classic Mile win last month, was the last to begin after blowing the start and only got going late to finish eighth.