Frankie Lor eyes tactical switch for Numbers
Frankie Lor is optimistic that implementing new tactics for Numbers (NZ) (Tivaci) can help the BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m) runner-up go to another level in Sunday’s HK$13 million Gr.1 Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup (2400m) at Sha Tin.
Aiming to unlock more of the bull-headed four-year-old’s potential, Lor is hopeful the gelding, whose bodyweight exceeds 1,200lb, doesn’t always have to race at the head of the field and that an alternative racing pattern could add another layer to his development.
“I’ve always thought that we should try to follow one horse and see if he can do it or not instead of always leading. Danny Shum has Romantic Thor, who might go forward and lead, and if he does that then we can sit second,” Lor said.
“I’ve seen his form in Australia, and he could sit second, third or fourth, but still, you can see the jockeys are always trying to control him because he pulls a lot.”
Numbers’ on-pace pattern has been rewarded twice in Hong Kong, including in February’s Gr.3 Centenary Vase Handicap (1800m). The 103-rater rises to 2400m for the third time on Sunday after he was fifth in the 2025 Gr.1 Australian Derby and second in the 2025 Gr.1 Queensland Derby for trainers John O’Shea & Tom Charlton pre-import.
Lor said: “On the ‘A Course’ at Sha Tin, it’s harder for front-runners. I’d like to see what happens if he can sit second.”
Numbers galloped on turf at Sha Tin in 1m 20.1s (28.6, 27.1, 24.4) for 1200m on Tuesday morning.
Most recently, Numbers was seventh on FWD Champions Day (26 April) in the HK$30 million Gr.1 FWD QEII Cup (2000m) behind Romantic Warrior, who is bidding to join River Verdon (1993/94) and Voyage Bubble last season as the third Hong Kong Triple Crown winner.
Lor said: “Last time he faced Group One horses, but I think he will learn from that race and improve. He’s doing okay.”
Cap Ferrat, Ka Ying Generation, Deep Monster and Rousham Park also feature on Sunday. - Hong Kong Jockey Club
Single Choice has another Derby option
Ballarat trainer Matt Cumani will chase another Derby with promising stayer Single Choice (Anders), who headed north on Tuesday for Saturday week’s Gr.1 Queensland Derby (2400m) at Eagle Farm.
The gelding enters the Queensland feature off a solid effort for fourth in the Gr.1 South Australian Derby (2500m) won by former Kiwi Wigmore (NZ) (Sweynesse).
Single Choice tracked the eventual winner throughout but elected to go wide on the Soft 7 track and loop the field rounding the home turn, whilst the breaks came for Wigmore.
“We were unlucky, I think, on the day in Adelaide,” Cumani told Racenet.
“It was part of the plan to try and find better ground but, in hindsight, we probably didn’t need to.
“We had the perfect spot. Had we just held it, he probably would have gone very close to winning, I would say.”
Single Choice had previously with run out an impressive winner of the Listed Galilee Series Final (2400m) at Caulfield.
A graduate of the New Zealand Bloodstock Ready To Run Sale, Single Choice has won four of his 11 starts, with Cumani pleased with the manner the youngster has handled the workload.
“He’s been up a while but he seems to handle it very well,” Cumani said.
“He’s looking a little bit wintery, which puts a bit of a dampener on my view of them, but he’s feeling really well.
“I think he deserves another chance at a Group One before he turns four.”
Single Choice was presented at the Ready To Run Sale by Riversley Park and secured by Cumani for $80,000.
Although he is by speedy sire Anders, a son of Not A Single Doubt, Single Choice also boasts staying influences through his dam Sebring Sally, a stakes winner who finished fourth in the Gr.1 Queensland Oaks (2200m) and second in the Gr.2 Doomben Roses (2000m). - NZ Racing Desk
Advantage Jenni in Saturday's Doomben Cup
Saturday’s Gr.1 Doomben Cup (2000m) was reduced to just seven runners at final acceptances on Tuesday in a scenario that might best suit the thrilling front-running mare Pride Of Jenni (Pride Of Dubai).
The first four home in Pride Of Jenni’s Gr.2 Hollindale Stakes (1800m) win all accepted, including the Cups champion Half Yours, but there were only a handful of new players on the scene for Saturday’s $1 million race at final acceptance after 39 horses were originally nominated for the race.
Vauban takes his chance back to 2000 metres while the former New Zealand Derby winner Asterix (NZ) (Tavistock) comes into the mix, as does stablemate and former Queensland Derby winner Kovalica (NZ) (Ocean Park).
Their presence and that of the highly-rated four from the Hollindale – Pride Of Jenni, Birdman, She’s A Hustler and Half Yours – seems to have deterred others from attempting the season’s final Group One at 2000 metres.
The surprisingly small field may well serve Pride Of Jenni’s imposing style of carving out strong sectionals from the jump.
In recent seasons, she’s dominated some small-field races such as the 2024 Feehan Stakes (four runners) and the 2025 Feehan (six runners) as well as last year’s Peter Young Stakes (six runners). - Racing.com
NZ Racing Desk
Jess de Lautour
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