Last seen in Australia running second to his stablemate Maison Louis in the Group I Queensland Derby, Kiwi bred four year-old King of Thunder opened his account at Sha Tin on Saturday racing under his new name Numbers.
The Tivaci gelding is now with the Frankie Lor stable ad after running third at Happy Valley on December 10, he improved to take out the Class Two event over 2000m by a length putting himself in the picture for the 2026 Hong Kong Derby.
Taken straight to the front today by Derek Leung, Numbers increased the tempo from the 800m before stoutly fending off Winning Wing to clock a slick 2m 0.94s.
Lor outlined Four-Year-Old Classic Series plans immediately after the race.
“I’ll see if the owner wants to go in all three Classic Series races or just the 1800m (Hong Kong Classic Cup) and 2000m (BMW Hong Kong Derby), because 1600m (Hong Kong Classic Mile) might be a bit short for him,” Lor said.
“He’s a big, strong horse with a big stride. The jockey said ‘2000m is still not enough, he can go 2200m or 2400m. In Australia he had 2400m form. He’s quite easy to train. Sometimes big horses need more work to train, but he’s quite easy.”
Derek Leung said: “He’s a nice horse, even 2400m he can handle. He’s got a big stride, he can lead and when he has cover, it will be even better for him because he can chase. I think the horse can improve even more.”
Numbers aka King of Thunder was a $50,000 NZB Ready to Run purchase from Ohukia Lodge for his previous co-trainer John O’Shea.
He is a half-brother to Group I placed Impecunious from stakes-placed Zabeel mare Sheezababe, a daughter of Group I AJC Sydney Cup winner Honor Babe.
