Matthew Poon gets chance on Packing Hermod: ‘Everybody thought Manfred's horse was going to run'
Jockey Matthew Poon Ming-fai will get his chance aboard the in-form Packing Hermod in Sunday's Group Three Premier Cup (1,400m) – something trainer Francis Lui Kin-wai has put down to the absence of the Manfred Man Ka-leung-trained Lucky Sweynesse.
While Packing Hermod will carry 126lb in the Premier Cup, the presence of the 127-rated Lucky Sweynesse would have seen the four-year-old assigned the minimum weight of 115lb.
'Everybody thought Manfred Man's horse was going to run, so everybody thought the other horses would be carrying a light weight. We picked the jockey early and I think that's why Zac [Purton] didn't pick this horse,' said Lui.
It was Purton in the saddle for Packing Hermod's last-start course-and-distance victory in Class Two, while Joao Moreira did the steering when the son of Rubick saluted in similar style two starts ago.
That pair of successes has driven Packing Hermod to a rating of 107 and improved his record to six wins from 10 starts, with Lui confident now is the time to throw his charge into Group company for the first time.
'This horse keeps improving and I think next season he will be even better again,' said Lui of Packing Hermod, who Poon will partner out of barrier seven.
Fresh after a few days holidaying on the mainland, Lui is preparing for a busy Sunday at Sha Tin and the veteran handler boasts a third of the Premier Cup field.
Copartner Prance and Patch Of Theta complete the trainer's hand in the season's penultimate Group contest, with Patch Of Theta looking to repeat his success in January's Group Three Chinese Club Challenge Cup (1,400m).
Rated 98 when carrying 115lb from outside the handicap in that triumph, Patch Of Theta now finds himself lugging 128lb off a mark of 109.
'I think the 1,400m is good for him and I just hope the pace is fast enough for him to travel. A lot will depend on the race situation,' said Lui.
Smart win, Patch Of Theta! 🫡
Francis Lui's Hong Kong International Sale graduate could be Stewards' Cup bound after his smashing G3 Chinese Club Challenge Cup victory on New Year's Day at Sha Tin... @KarisTeetan #LuckyStart | #LoveRacing | #HKracing pic.twitter.com/kCZMNqPmR9 — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) January 2, 2025
Andrea Atzeni rides Patch Of Theta and Copartner Prance will be partnered by Keagan de Melo, while Purton reunites with Group One victor Beauty Eternal after the John Size-trained galloper's improved showing in last month's Group Three Lion Rock Trophy (1,600m).
Rounding out the Premier Cup field are Victor The Winner, Invincible Sage, Happy Together, reigning champion Mugen and Taj Dragon.
Lui is also well represented in Sunday's other Group Three, the Premier Plate (1,800m), but neither Hong Kong Derby hero Cap Ferrat or Chancheng Glory had much luck with the barrier gods.
Dropping significantly in distance after running third behind Voyage Bubble in last month's Group One Champions & Chater Cup (2,400m), Cap Ferrat and rider Hugh Bowman must contend with gate nine and Lui is approaching the race with uncertainty.
'It's hard to say how he will go but I'm a little bit worried about the draw,' said the trainer.
A half-length second behind Pray For Mir in the recent Lion Rock Trophy, Chancheng Glory jumps from gate 12 under Luke Ferraris.
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