It is not common to see a top-class galloper racing one week before participating in a Group 1 event but trainer Francis Lui hopes it will work for his stable’s star sprinter Copartner Prance.
The prolific winning son of Epaulette is among the 14 selected runners for the HK$22 million Gr1 Chairman’s Sprint Prize at Sha Tin on Sunday week, 27 April and Lui has decided to run him in the Class 2 Kowloon Bay Handicap (1200m, dirt) on Sunday at Sha Tin in preparation.
Copartner Prance is a seven-time winner in Hong Kong (Pic – HKJC)
Lui explained his decision: “There won’t be many suitable races for him near the end of the season and therefore I entered him for both races.
“As long as he runs well this Sunday and pulls up well after the race, I will let him to have a quick back up and run him in the Group 1 next week.
“He ran good last time in a Group 2 and I am pleased with his progress then. He is a fit horse and believed he will be close this time. He will be ridden by James (Orman) in the Chairman’s Sprint Prize.”
On Sunday, Copartner Prance will have his first race on dirt but Lui hopes his consistent galloper could be able to cope with the surface. The Australian import is currently in solid form, finishing top four in his most recent five starts and won a Class 2 race at Happy Valley earlier this term.
Copartner Prance (135lb) faces eight rivals tomorrow – Beauty Waves (133lb), Capital Delight (125lb), Bottomuptogether (122lb), Self Improvement (115lb), Sing Dragon (115lb), Superb Capitalist (115lb), Bundle Of Charm (115lb) and Stellar Express (115lb). Beauty Waves is also one of the selected runners for the Chairman’s Sprint Prize.
Sunday’s 10-race card at Sha Tin starts with the Class 5 Luk Wu Handicap at 06h45.
