Paul O’Sullivan’s Last Kingdom (124lb) has hit a smart patch of form, placing in three of his last four races, and the handler is hopeful the gelding can get off the mark in the Class 3 Lancashire Handicap (1650m).
“He’s drawn a bit of an awkward gate, I’ll just leave it Joao (Moreira) to work it out, but his form has come sound and he’s been consistent so he deserves to win a race,” O’Sullivan said.
Last Kingdom is one of five horses currently racing in Hong Kong by the great Frankel and if successful on Wednesday night, he will become the third to win a race after Simply Brilliant and Enjoyable Success before him.
Frankel was unbeaten across his 14-start career including 10 individual Group 1 victories, retiring at a record high rating of 140.
Frankel’s sometimes unpredictable temperament is not a trait Last Kingdom inherited; instead the horse has been a pleasure for O’Sullivan to train, albeit without putting a win next to his name.
“Quiet, five-year-old bull; he’s just like an old gelding,” the handler said.
O’Sullivan saddles four at Happy Valley (22 May) including last-start winner Planet Star (127lb) in the Class 3 Norfolk Handicap (1200m).
“Planet Star is in good form, so he’ll just work himself to the lead or close to it,” O’Sullivan said.
Victor Wong will be looking to make it two-from-two aboard Planet Star after driving the gelding to a narrow victory last start.
“I think it was a real on-pace bias that day, very much so, the first two around the corner won all night,” O’Sullivan said.