Per Incanto leads the way, Oscar Glory steps up in trip for Happy Valley test

[Wandering Eyes]

New Zealand-bred horses dominated proceedings with six wins at Sha Tin on Sunday and this Wednesday night at Happy Valley trainer Frankie Lor is looking to keep the ball rolling when the improving Oscar Glory (NZ) – a son of this season’s leading sire Per Incanto – contests the second section of the Class 4 Lok Fu Handicap (1650m).

The three-year-old New Zealand-bred will have his first start over 1650m at the city circuit with Lor remaining hopeful that a step up in trip will help the gelding gain a career-first triumph. 

“I think he can improve over the mile, he is a big horse and I think the distance will suit him,” Lor said. “He’s still a three-year-old so he will continue to improve.”

Per Incanto – who is also New Zealand’s current third leading sire – tops the billing this season in Hong Kong with 24 wins. 

“Per Incanto does well here and he (Oscar Glory) is such a big horse with a big action – I thought he was the right fit for Hong Kong – that’s why I picked him,” Lor said.

Karis Teetan, who drove the gelding to a competitive fifth last time out retains the ride and he too believes that the extra ground will help, as well as the addition of cheek pieces.

“I spoke to Frankie (Lor) and we decided to put the cheek pieces on him, I do think that it will help him a lot – he’s a lovely horse,” Teetan said.

The gelding loomed between runners last time out but could only manage fifth while the David Hayes-trained So We Joy pounced for his second Hong Kong win.

“I thought last time he could have finished a bit closer, the way he moved up I thought he was going to go through and win the race but I think he’s still very inexperienced,” Teetan said.

Oscar Glory is one of eight entrants for Lor at the midweek fixture, he will break from gate one against 11 others.

“I think he’s going to prefer going a bit further – he’s a big striding horse and I think after his last run he should be stronger – the 1650 metres at Happy Valley is going to be spot on for him with the cheek pieces on,” Teetan said.

A three-year-old, the lightly raced PPG (Privately Purchased Griffin) sits on a mark of 52 ahead of his Happy Valley debut having exclusively raced and trialled at Sha Tin.

“The 1650 metres at Happy Valley is a touch weaker than the 1400 metres at Sha Tin, so he has a good opportunity tomorrow night,” the 30-year-old said.

Sunday’s New Zealand-bred victors at Sha Tin were Charity Grace (NZ) (Per Incanto), Beluga (NZ) (Tavistock), Courier Wonder (NZ) (Sacred Falls), Fantastic Way (NZ) (Swiss Ace), Reliable Team (NZ) (REliable Man) and Sky Darci (NZ) (Darci Brahma) who won the 2021 HK$24 million BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m).

Among Teetan’s full book of nine rides on the card is Fourawarrior (NZ) (Darci Brahma) for trainer Tony Millard, who debuts off the back of two consecutive first-past-the-post trial efforts.

The son of Darci Brahma crossed his most recent trial in first by over five lengths, leading all the way under Teetan over 800m on the Sha Tin turf.

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