Frankie Lor is aiming to extend his terrific record in Wednesday’s HK$4.2 million Gr3 January Cup Handicap when the trainer saddles Happy Together, Money Catcher and Flamingo Trillion in Happy Valley’s sole Group race.
Happy Together is chasing consecutive wins in Happy Valley’s feature (Pic – HKJC)
Victorious with Simply Brilliant (2019), Money Catcher (2023) and Happy Together (2024), the latter tops the 2025 line-up rated 110 for Lor, while half of the 12-runner field rate below 100 and receive favourable imposts: Helene Feeling, Money Catcher, Woodfire Bro, Flamingo Trillion, Star Contact and Romantic Laos.
Alexis Badel has won two January Cups for Lor (2019 & 2024). He reunites with Happy Together from barrier 10, while Money Catcher steps from the widest draw under Matthew Poon. Flamingo Trillion is placed sweetly in gate two with Derek Leung engaged.
“Happy Together’s run at the LONGINES Hong Kong International Races was great. He’s heading towards this race with what I believe is a good chance, we just carry so much weight on Wednesday, so we need everything to go smooth,” Badel said.
“I would say the barrier is a touch awkward. We’ll see what the pace looks like but my horse can finish, he has a good turn of foot, he tries hard – hopefully he can run a good race.”
Flamingo Trillion has won three times from five attempts over the January Cup course and distance. Leung is seeking a first Group race success with Lor’s 85-rating chestnut.
“The light weight is going to help him a lot. We have a good draw and he’s a straightforward horse, it doesn’t matter if we lead, sit second or third. We just ride him to his own rhythm,” Leung said.
Five G Patch, La City Blanche, Encountered, The Golden Scenery and Moments In Time are the other 100-plus rated horses in the race.
Hugh Bowman is aiming to guide Moments In Time to a third Hong Kong win in tomorrow night’s Group 3 for trainer Danny Shum from barrier six.
“I was delighted with his performance last start at Happy Valley. He’s a very consistent horse, he’s had a bit of a mixture in class and distances to contend with over the last 12 to 18 months, but I truly think he finds a race that he can feature in,” Bowman said.
“He put the writing on the wall last time. I rode him a bit differently from a wider draw and just thought I’d try to switch him off because he’s a very competitive individual, even in his work, he really wants to get on with it.
“I didn’t mean to get as far back last start but with a lap to go we had plenty of time. If he can come out of that race on an upward spiral then he’s certainly well placed here.”
Moments In Time raced as Racatan pre-import in Chile, where he won three times, including the 2022 Gr1 Nacional Ricardo Lyon for three-year-old horses at Hipico.
“The race appears to set up so that I might be able to take a handier position but I think it’s vital that I do make a point of switching him off in the early stages to get the best out of him,” Bowman said.
Andrea Atzeni rides last-start winner Romantic Laos for trainer Cody Mo in the January Cup.
“He’s got a good draw (1). He won at the track last start from a good draw and a good trip – everything worked out perfectly. He’s going up to 1800 metres, so with the way he won last start you’d think the distance is not an issue. On ratings he has a bit to find, but with a light weight he could run well,” Atzeni said.
Following a weekend double at Sha Tin, David Hayes saddles Star Contact, who breaks from barrier seven under Lyle Hewitson in the January Cup.
Hayes said: “He showed last start that he’s handling the upper-class races and he always gives himself a nice run in transit, so he’ll race on the pace and we’ll see if he can handle the open class.”
Brenton Avdulla partners California Deeply in the HK$1.86 million Class 3 Causeway Handicap for trainer Tony Cruz, gunning for back-to-back wins at Happy Valley.
“He had a bit of a break between wins, but he’s always been a horse who has definitely been up to that level (Class 4) and even in Class 3. It’s nice to get a win with him and hopefully it gives him a bit of confidence stepping out on Wednesday,” Avdulla said.
Positioned on 1,805 Hong Kong wins, championship-leading jockey Zac Purton requires nine more victories to set a new all-time record for Hong Kong wins as a jockey. Purton is aiming to better jockey-turned-trainer Douglas Whyte’s mark of 1,813.
Purton rides Golden Rise, Ninja Derby, Beauty Light, Spirit Of Peace, Firefoot, A Americ Te Specso and Toy Soltero at the city circuit.
Wednesday’s nine-race fixture at Happy Valley commences at 12h40 with the Class 5 Paterson Handicap.
