Frankie Lor believes Stormy Grove close to Group One level ahead of Sunday's Class Two Members Cup at Sha Tin

Frankie Lor Fu-cheun believes Classic Cup (1,800m) winner Stormy Grove is close to Group One level and is looking for further improvement to back that up when he takes on Sunday’s Class Two Members Cup (1,600m) at Sha Tin.

The Toronado galloper has gone from strength to strength in his last three starts, winning in Class Three company before unleashing a devastating turn of foot to win the Classic Cup under Harry Bentley. He once again surged home from the back of the field in the Hong Kong Derby (2,000m), arriving just one and a quarter lengths too late to overhaul Invincible Ibis and stablemate Numbers to finish an admirable third.

All systems were go for an ambitious tilt at the Group One Champions Mile last Sunday, but he narrowly missed out on a berth as the third reserve. Although frustrating for Lor, he is hoping to see further improvement from his progressive four-year-old, who he believes is not far away from mixing it at the top table.

“I entered him for the Champions Mile but he was the third reserve and couldn’t get in, so I had to enter him for this 1,600m race instead,” Lor said. “He needs to carry a bit of weight [135lb] in this race, but I think it will be OK. The horse needs to relax in the early stages and then he will have a very strong finish. I think he can still improve.

“Before, when he first came to Hong Kong, he was a difficult horse. He won his two races before going left handed, so he had to learn how to change legs and take the turn. Sometimes you can still see that he leans at the turn, but our work rider has done a lot of work with him and he’s perfect now.

“I’m not saying he would have won the race, but I really wanted to see how good he was by seeing him in the Champions Mile. For me, I think he is close to Group One level.”

Lor will also unleash the exciting Smart Golf in Sunday’s Class Three Beijing Clubhouse Handicap (1,200m), with the son of Needs Further looking to complete a hat-trick. Winning three of his five starts so far, Smart Golf was scratched from an intended run on April 12 when lame in his left front leg. He has recovered well from the setback and Lor is looking forward to seeing him back on the track as he looks to continue climbing up the grades.

“He was scratched from his intended start because he had a sore foot, but now everything is fine. He’s a horse who can lead or sit second, so he really does need a good draw,” Lor said. “I think he has a good chance – he’s still improving.”

Lor will also run veteran stayer Money Catcher in the Class Three Conghua Racecourse Handicap (2,000m). The eight-year-old has been a grand servant to the yard and although he has won just three local starts, he was once rated 117 and was beaten just one and a half lengths behind Golden Sixty in the 2023 Gold Cup (2,000m), with Romantic Warrior in second.

Sunday’s race is a far cry from that company as he reaches the twilight of his career, but a $22 upset win from earlier in the campaign shows the fire still burns and Lor is hoping he can notch one final win before he heads for a well-earned retirement.

“He got up to a 110 rating, so he’s had to come down a lot. Now in Class Three, he’s really competitive and he will run well again on Sunday,” Lor said. “He’s been so consistent for me. He’s eight years old, so this will likely be his last season, so I hope he can go out on a high.”

Meanwhile, two-time Group Two winner Galaxy Patch has begun settling in at Brett Crawford’s stable after his owner opted to transfer the Wandjina galloper from Pierre Ng Pang-chi’s yard. Winner of the Group Two Jockey Club Mile earlier this campaign, owner Yeung Kin-man will be hoping a swap to Crawford – who has become synonymous with reinvigorating stable transfers this season – will bear fruit.

“Given his rating, he’s run against some of the best horses around and we’re very excited to have him in the yard,” Crawford said. “We’ll have a discussion with the owners and devise a plan. I’d like to see him settle into my stable first and let him find his feet, before we make any firm plans.

“He arrived on Tuesday morning – it’s exciting times ahead.”