A couple of the most exciting performances were saved for the last two races at Sha Tin on Sunday as three-year-olds Sakewin and Packing Treadmill dispatched their rivals in eye-catching fashion.
Sakewin took the step up to Class Three company in his stride when again making all the running to win the second section of the Game Spirit Handicap (1,200m) in some style.
Forced up in grade following an impressive debut victory that saw the handicapper raise him nine points, Sakewin made light work of his opponents to shoot clear of Drops Of God and win by an eased-down three lengths.
The highlight of a Frankie Lor Fu-chuen treble, Sakewin could well be heading into the four-year-old series next season if he continues to mature.
“He’s not a really big horse, he weighs only 1,080 [pounds],” Lor said. “If he gets bigger and stronger he should be a good horse for next season and he’ll go a bit further.”
Sakewin’s success rounded off a good afternoon for Lor, who had earlier hit the target in both sections of the Class Four Monaveen Handicap (1,400m) courtesy of Free Foal and Massive Action.
Free Foal gave Blake Shinn his 27th winner of the season as he begins to count down his days remaining in Hong Kong, while Massive Action made nearly all the running when taking advantage of a drop to this level for the first time under Zac Purton.
Lor is now three winners clear of John Size in the trainers’ championship as he chases his first title but he remains wary of the firepower at his former mentor’s disposal.
“My old boss can easily win two or three races at one meeting, so I’ll just keep trying to win races,” Lor said.
Before his success aboard Massive Action, Purton saluted aboard the David Hayes-trained Oriental Smoke in the Class Four Manicou Handicap (1,200m) before completing his treble aboard Packing Treadmill, who reversed form with odds-on shot Buzzinga.
Having finished a well-beaten third behind the Tony Cruz runner last time, Packing Treadmill was always prominent and seemed to relish the softening underfoot conditions to beat Escape Route into second, with Buzzinga a place further behind.
“He flew the gates and I felt like I was going to get across easily until everyone, with the track bias in mind, wanted to be handy and they kept kicking up, so I had to work more than I wanted to going into the first corner,” Purton said.
Lor holds host of Sha Tin chances as he continues championship push
“For him to be able to do that and then still be able to balance up and have a good kick was nice. He won his first start on a softish track, so I thought he would handle it. He had the light weight and he did a good job.”
Purton’s treble matched that of his title rival Joao Moreira to leave the Australian still two behind the Magic Man in the championship but his day could have been even better as he finished second on three occasions.
“I’ve had a frustrating run of placings recently,” Purton said. “I seem to be running second and third in every race and it was becoming a bit tiring but a few winners help and you need just one good day to get things going again. Hopefully this might be it.”
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