GvN aims high in the Year of the Pig

Hong Kong – Up-and-coming trainer Frankie Lor and South African jockey Grant van Niekerk are hoping rising star Big Party can complete a hat-trick in the Fat Choi Handicap at today’s big Chinese New Year race meeting at Sha Tin.

The three-year-old, raised 13 merit points for a commanding course-and-distance success, looked impressive in a recent barrier trial and “hasn’t put a foot wrong with me”, according to his rider.

“Big Party has a high cruising speed and can quicken off it, which is what good horses do,” added Van Niekerk. “We’ll take it step by step, but I’m hoping he can go all the way.”

Lor, who has taken Hong Kong by storm this season, also has a good chance of winning the day’s main feature, the Chinese New Year Cup (1400m) – with another rising star in the shape of Morethanlucky.

Lor started 2018 – the Year of the Dog – with a breakthrough success when veteran Dundonnell landed this same race in front of a big holiday crowd. Now he bids to mark the Year of the Pig by landing the HK$2.6million contest with a horse with a good turnaround story.

Morethanlucky was lowly rated after seven unplaced efforts when he joined Lor in 2017. Five wins and HK$6.5 million in prize money later, he lines up as a prime contender for a famous old race.

“Some horses don’t acclimatise to Hong Kong in their first season and I was lucky to get him,” Lor said.

“Morethanlucky is still in very good form. I think he’s got a good chance with the same jockey as last time.”

That jockey is Alexis Badel, who rode Morethanlucky for the first time when he was second in a Grade 3 at Sha Tin on 1 January.

“Frankie gave me my first Group winner in Hong Kong so it would be a great to start Chinese New Year with another big win for him.” –

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