Dark Dream, Furore ‘Lor’-d Over Classic Cup Field

[Wandering Eyes]

In the form of the high-class imports Dark Dream (Aus) (All American {Aus}) and Furore (NZ) (Pierro {Aus}), trainer Frankie Lor holds a strong hand in the 2019 Classics series in Hong Kong, and those two gallopers are well clear on ratings heading into Sunday’s Hong Kong Classic Cup (1800m) at Sha Tin.

Following a good third to loose-on-the-lead Ka Ying Star (GB) (Cityscape {GB}) in a Class 2 over 1600m Jan. 6, Lor reached out to jockey Hugh Bowman to ride Furore in the Classic Mile Jan. 27 and the decision paid dividends when the bay muscled his way out and charged home to best perfect-trip Mission Tycoon (Aus) (Written Tycoon {Aus}), with Ka Ying Star clinging on for third after setting the majority of the pace (click for a story on Furore from Sunday’s TDNAus/NZ edition).

Dark Dream traveled three wide for the opening 1200 metres after leaving from a high draw and was about to launch his bid in earnest when a chain reaction caused by Furore saw him bumped soundly. He still wound up nicely down the centre, getting home in :22.38, but only good enough for fourth.

The toughest-luck story in the Classic Mile belonged to Harmony Victory (Brz) (Public Purse), who was slow to begin and last of the 14 into the final 400m. He was also inconvenienced by the incident in the stretch and was snatched up off Dark Dream’s heels 350m out, but was actually home 0.01 faster than his rival to finish a deceptively good fifth.

New to the Classic series are Ho Ho Khan (NZ) (Makfi {GB}), winner of three straight, including a course-and-distance Class 2 win over Helene Leadingstar (Aus) (Wanted {Aus}) Jan. 20; and Red Warrior (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}), owned by former HKJC Chairman Ron Arculli and a good-looking Class 2 winner at Happy Valley Jan. 30. Joao Moreira rides.

WATCH: Furore wins the Hong Kong Classic Mile

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