By Declan Schuster
Chancheng Glory found his groove and trainer Francis Lui hopes the Iowa-bred gelding can lift his game again in Tuesday's Class 3 Pak Tin Handicap at Sha Tin.
Unbeaten across three starts since switching to the mile and also eligible for the Four-Year-Old Classic Series, Chancheng Glory has been a revelation this season with two wins in Class 4 and one in Class 3 – the latest returned at the end of November.
“He's good. If he can win, of course, at this moment his rating is a little low (for the Four-Year-Old Classic Series),” Lui said.
The Four-Year-Old Classic Series comprises three races: HK$13 million Hong Kong Classic Mile on Feb. 4, HK$13 million Hong Kong Classic Cup on March 3, and HK$26 million BMW Hong Kong Derby on March 24.
“He can go a little bit further, he seems a little bit one-paced but he can handle a bit more (distance),” Lui said of Chancheng Glory, a private acquisition after he failed to meet his reserve price on a final bid of $220,000 at the 2022 OBS March Two-Year-Olds in Training Sale, where he was offered by Pike Racing. He was unraced in the United States.
A 3-year-old son of Mor Spirit out of the Consolidator mare Solid Scam who was bred by H. Allen Poindexter, Chancheng Glory faces quality opposition, including Billionaire Secret, Let's Do It, and Accolade Start. Lyle Hewitson rides Chancheng Glory from barrier five.
Lui declared Hong Kong champion Golden Sixty to be in good condition. He will chase an 11th Group 1 win in the HK$13 million Stewards' Cup (G1) on Jan. 21 at Sha Tin, in what shapes as potentially his second last run before retirement.
“He's doing normal work. We're happy with him, he galloped on Thursday,” Lui said. “He's the same, but actually, I think his condition is a little bit better.”
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