Frankie Lor hopes Bottomuptogether can take a significant step towards Group company when the talented sprinter contests the HK$2.84 million Class 2 HKU Business School And Faculty Of Engineering Handicap (1200m) at Sha Tin on Saturday (14 June).
With five wins and five minor placings from 12 starts, the Shamus Award gelding has risen in the ratings to 102 and chases a third course and distance victory under Zac Purton this weekend when the pair faces a quality line-up of speedsters.
To jump from gate 10, Bottomuptogether (133lb) clashes with Raging Blizzard (135lb), Wunderbar (128lb), Gorgeous Win (127lb), Son Pak Fu (124lb), Tomodachi Kokoroe (121lb), Gustosisimo (120lb) and Call Me Glorious, Must Go, Harmony N Blessed and Whizz Kid, who are all assigned 115lb.
Reacting to the barrier draw, Lor said: “This time he has drawn 10, which is a little bit awkward because inside him he has some horses who are quite fast. It will depend on how he jumps. If he jumps better than the others maybe he can lead, but if someone goes crazy in front maybe he can take a sit.
“I think Zac knows the horse more than me. Zac always rides this horse better than the other jockeys, so I’ll just leave it to him.”
Rated 79 at the start of the season, Bottomuptogether has scored twice this term and last start finished second to Lady’s Choice in a strong Class 2 over 1200m.
“He’s a horse who has improved slowly, slowly,” Lor, Hong Kong champion trainer in 2021/22, said. “He just gets a little bit better each time. He’s still young, he’s only four years old, so I hope next season we can try for Group races.
“His full brother is Beauty Live, so hopefully he can handle a bit longer in time, but at this stage he’s still a bit keen in the early stages so I’ll leave him at 1200m until he can relax more.”
With 44 wins for the season, Lor is sixth in the trainers’ championship behind John Size (62), David Hayes (54), Ricky Yiu (49), Caspar Fownes (48) and reigning Hong Kong champion trainer Francis Lui (45).
Eyeing a third Hong Kong trainers’ championship after titles during his first Hong Kong stint in 1997/98 and 1998/99, David Hayes is represented by Tomodachi Kokoroe (Luke Ferraris) and Harmony N Blessed (Karis Teetan) in Saturday’s contest.
Acknowledging 12-time champion trainer Size’s imposing eight-win lead in the race for this season’s Hong Kong trainers’ crown, Hayes said: “I need to be training more winners than John at the next few meetings to have a sneak of a chance.
“It’s (winning the championship) highly unlikely but I haven’t given up. For all that I’m a realist. If he equals me or worse on Saturday, I’ll hoist the white flag.”
Assessing the form of Tomodachi Kokoroe and Harmony N Blessed, Hayes said: “They are two war horses for the stable. They are at their marks at this stage of their careers but I’d expect them both to get prize money.
“You never know, if they get the right runs, they’re more than capable of winning, though it’s a tough class for them. I’d lean towards Harmony N Blessed if the going gets soft, but I’d be favouring Tomodachi Kokoroe if it isn’t.”
Hayes has 11 runners spread across 8 races and expects World Hero to run well.
World Hero contests the Class 4 Hong Kong University Alumni Association Challenge Cup Handicap (1400m) and will start from barrier 14 for Alexis Badel.
“He’s (World Hero) in great form – he has a class rise and he did get a beautiful ride to win the other day. He gives himself every chance by putting himself on the pace and should run well again,” Hayes said.
Saturday’s (14 June) 11-race card at Sha Tin starts with the HKU Faculties Of Arts And Education Plate (1000m) for Griffins at 4pm.
By Leo Schlink
