Hong Kong Champion Trainer (2021/22) Frankie Lor is buoyant of a return to form for Healthy Happy when the Zoustar gelding lines up in Sunday's HK$3.9 million Group 3 Premier Cup Handicap (1400m) at Sha Tin following a brief freshen up at Conghua.
“He's good. I gave him a break and let him go to Conghua – he trialled once there and he performed good,” Lor said.
Consistent all season, Healthy Happy dipped well below his best to finish a distant last in April's Group 1 Champions Mile (1600m) behind Golden Sixty – a performance Lor is optimistic can be reversed, even against a small but formidable quintet entered to run: Beauty Eternal, Beauty Joy, Red Lion, Circuit Stellar and Kurpany.
“There's a few quite strong horses, Beauty Eternal and Beauty Joy as well as Red Lion – these three are strong,” Lor said. “You don't know though, if you have good form anything can happen.”
Victorious in the 2021 Hong Kong Classic Cup (1800m), Healthy Happy – currently rated 108 in Hong Kong – has maintained a consistent level of racing throughout his career, also taking success in the 2022 Group 3 Chinese Club Challenge Cup Handicap (1400m).
“At this moment it looks like 1400 metres is his best distance. Over a mile you can face better horses, so I think Group 3 and 1400 metres should be better for him,” Lor said.
The six-year-old on-pacer has twice placed at Group 3 level this term over Sunday's course and distance. He also held on for fourth in the Group 2 Chairman's Trophy (1600m) in early April, finishing just over a length behind the Group 1-winning California Spangle.
“His form is good. I think he should run a good race, you just don't know, there's only six runners. Derek Leung will ride,” Lor said.
Trailing his former mentor John Size by six wins (68-62), Lor has seven entries to his title rival's 11 for this Sunday. With 391 career wins under his belt, Lor is closing in on the 400-win mark and is hoping to reach the superb milestone by season's close on 16 July.
“This week Size has 11 runners and you can see a few of them can win,” he said. “I hope I can reach 400 wins before the season ends. It would be good.”