Numbers keeps climbing as Hong Kong Classic Cup takes spotlight

[Wandering Eyes]

Numbers (NZ) (Tivaci) is one of Hong Kong racing’s brightest talents, and jockey Derek Leung hopes the imposing galloper can make a big impact in Sunday’s HK$13 million Hong Kong Classic Cup (1800m) for in-form trainer Frankie Lor.

A two-time winner from only three starts in the city, headlined by his two-length score in the HK$4.2 million Gr.3 Centenary Vase Handicap (1800m) this month, the classy Numbers has emerged as a leading contender in this weekend’s race – the second leg of the three-race Four-Year-Old Classic Series – at Sha Tin.

Leung said: “I galloped him yesterday (Monday, 23 February) and he did it well. He’s good, and I think he’s slightly improving. He’s a stayer and he needs a few runs, but I think it’s a good time to go to the Classic Cup.”

Leung has won the Hong Kong Classic Cup previously in tandem with Lor, striking aboard Mission Tycoon in 2019 as a 91/1 chance. However, Numbers – who, like Mission Tycoon, is expected to press forward and lead – won’t be anywhere close to those odds.

Weighing in at 1,212lb last start, Numbers is of considerable size, and Leung believes the 100-rater is still a work in progress at the beginning of his races.

“He’s very long and tall – so when he gets in the gates everything feels small to him. Sometimes he gets a bit agitated, but we always practice in the gates for him to calm down, so fingers crossed this weekend he can jump at the perfect time,” Leung said.

Lor, who has six wins this month, is satisfied with Numbers and said: “Everything is good. He’s much better now and he’s more relaxed. Further distances are no problem for him. The light weight helped him in the Group 3, but it was a good win.”

Numbers – who placed in the 2025 G1 Queensland Derby (2400m) in Australia when known as King Of Thunder – carried 117lb to victory last start when defeating Speed Dragon, Encountered, Ensued, Chancheng Glory, Beauty Joy and Straight Arron on 8 February at Sha Tin.

The Four-Year-Old Classic Series culminates with the blue riband HK$26 million 149th BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m) on 22 March at Sha Tin.

NZB Ready To Run graduate Straight To Glory (Hellbent) goes for a hat-trick of wins in Wednesday night’s Class 3 Wan Chai Gap Handicap (1200m) at Happy Valley with Leung in the plate.

“He’s had perfect runs in his last two starts. He’s up to Class 3 now, but he gets a light weight and a good draw (two),” Leung said. “He loves a battle, and it seems like he calms down more at Happy Valley. He can be quite hot sometimes.”

The HK$3.12 million Class 2 Magazine Gap Handicap (1800m) sees seven runners square off at the city circuit, including Huge Wave (NZ) (Vadamos), who placed second two runs ago in the HK$4.2 million G3 January Cup Handicap (1800m).

Alexis Badel retains the ride and said: “He seems to enjoy the track at Happy Valley and he’s been very consistent. He has a good gate (four), he has a little bit of weight on his back, but I think he’s strong enough and he’s mature at the moment to handle it.”

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