Francis Lui has confirmed his exciting five-year-old Packing Hermod is set to drop back to 1200m for the G2 Premier Bowl on October 26, as the trainer outlines the next targets for a number of his leading players.
Packing Hermod, who collected four wins and a Group 3 placing during his four-year-old season, will revert to sprinting for the first time since October last year as Lui looks to swerve a red-hot renewal of the G2 Sha Tin Trophy next week.
“We thought we’d try him over 1200m again,” Lui told Idol Horse. “The [Sha Tin Trophy] looks a tough race, especially with Voyage Bubble in there. The Premier Bowl looks a bit easier, so who knows.”
With Manfred Man saying his is “unsure” whether Lucky Sweynesse will head to the Premier Bowl after his disappointing effort in the G1 Sprinters Stakes in Japan last time out, and Ka Ying Rising still in Australia after the G1 The Everest next weekend, Lui hopes Packing Hermod can capitalise on a potentially weaker field.
“He has shown he has lots of speed previously and his last run in the [G3 Celebration Cup] over 1400m was also good,” he said.
While Packing Hermod won’t be lining up in the Sha Tin Trophy that is going to include Voyage Bubble and My Wish, Lui confirmed he will have two runners in the contest. Last year’s Hong Kong Derby winner, Cap Ferrat, will join the 111-rated Copartner Prance in the race.
“We will have two in the race,” Lui said. “Cap Ferrat will go and Copartner Prance ran a great race last time out in the [G3 Celebration Cup]. He will try a mile.”
The 2023-24 champion trainer also stated his highest-rated horse, Chancheng Glory, will target the G3 Sa Sa Ladies’ Purse over the same distance on November 9. The five-year-old finished a gallant second under Jerry Chau in the G3 Korea Cup over (1800m) last month.
“He’s doing well after his race in Korea,” Lui said. “He’ll go to the Sa Sa, which looks a good race for him. He won over 1800m last season, so hopefully he can run well.”
Lui also said his 109-rated galloper, Patch Of Theta, will be on the sidelines for some time after a “small setback” following his sixth in the G3 Celebration Cup. ∎
