Lui holds strong hand on Champions Day

[Wandering Eyes]

Francis Lui is hoping high-class sprinter Lucky Patch can consign a nightmare outing in the Gr.1 Hong Kong Sprint (1200m) to a distant memory when the son of El Roca returns to action at Sha Tin on Sunday.

The multiple Group One-winning conditioner has been pleased with his charge ahead of the Gr.1 Chairman’s Sprint Prize (1200m) on Sunday.

Lucky Patch had won both the Gr.2 Premier Bowl Handicap (1200m) and the Gr.2 Jockey Club Sprint (1200m) ahead of International Day in December, but the short-course specialist parted company with rider Zac Purton during a melee caused by the breakdown of Amazing Star that marred the Hong Kong Sprint.

“He seems okay at the moment and we’ve been slowly building up his confidence again. I’m very happy with him physically,” Lui said.

Lucky Patch returned to trial in January, but failed to perform up to expectations and Lui sent him to the Hong Kong Jockey Club’s Conghua facility in China to recover.

Lucky Patch won two barrier trials there last month and finished runner-up in his other outing before belatedly returning to Sha Tin where he will be ridden this weekend by Jerry Chau.

“It was just a shame he got stuck in Conghua and missed a warm-up race before Sunday,” Lui said. 

“His trackwork and trials have all been fine so I think he’s okay now and we’ll just take it race by race.”

COVID protocols had resulted in cancellation of cross-border movement of horses between Conghua and Sha Tin until more recent times.

Lui will also have New Zealand sourced star Golden Sixty gunning for an historic success in the Gr.1 FWD Champions Mile (1600m) at Sha Tin on Sunday. 

Chasing an unmatched 21st Hong Kong victory and poised to overtake Beauty Generation’s Hong Kong prize money record of HK$106,233,750 with earnings already of HK$102,000,600, Golden Sixty will bid for his 10th victory over Sha Tin’s 1600m course – and second Champions Mile – from barrier two.

“California Spangle is a very strong opponent, he’s young and he has good speed. But barrier two will help Golden Sixty position himself in a very good place so he doesn’t have to chase from too far back and hopefully he will win it again,” Lui said.

Golden Sixty was purchased out of Riversley Park’s 2017 New Zealand Bloodstock Ready To Run draft for $300,000 By Francis Lui and later did his early education under Matamata trainer Graham Richardson.

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