Hong Kong Jockey Club
Morethanlucky was a prominent player in the Frankie Lor success story last season and the trainer is looking to Saturday’s (22 September) Class 2 Washington D.C. Handicap (1400m) for a signal that the five-year-old can play a leading part this term, too.
Lor accrued 65 wins in his first campaign ˗ a record for a freshman handler in Hong Kong ˗ and Morethanlucky provided four of those. But the bay gelding’s contribution was not only numerical; in progressing to a third-place finish in the prestigious Hong Kong Classic Mile, the New Zealand-bred advanced Lor’s profile as a trainer capable of readying horses in the classier grades.
Morethanlucky will step out for his first run this season off the back of a smart barrier trial on 11 September. Under race-day pilot Karis Teetan, the son of Per Incanto made all through 1200m on the all-weather track and passed the post under a hold, clear of his peers.
“I’m happy with the way he won the trial last week and I think he has a good chance this Saturday,” said Lor, who is hopeful that his charge’s best is yet to come.
“He is rated 92 but he looks like he can still improve a little bit. Saturday’s race will tell us about whether he can make the step up to the better races.”
After running what seemed to be a non-staying eighth in February’s Hong Kong Classic Cup (1800m), the second leg of the Four-Year-Old Classic Series, Morethanlucky was side-lined until returning for two late season defeats.
“He had a little foot problem last season but now everything is back to normal, he’s healthy and I expect him to run well this weekend,” Lor added.
The bay will break from gate six in the field of 14, which also features top-weight Joyful Trinity ˗ champion jockey Zac Purton will be aboard the G1-plcaced galloper for the first time since January, 2017. -HKJC