Not much has gone right for trainer Frankie Lor’s dirt specialist, YOUTHFUL DEAL, in recent starts. However, he gets conditions in his favour this week in the Class 2 Handicap over 1200m on the all-weather track.
YOUTHFUL DEAL put together a hat-trick of impressive wins at this course and distance from late March to early June this year. His season concluded with an average 12th-place finish when he encountered a good-to-yielding turf track that didn’t suit. In his first race of the current term, he remained on turf and encountered another rain-affected track, resulting in a moderate sixth-place finish. Second-up, he returned to his preferred dirt surface but was up in trip to 1650m for the first time in his career, which seemed suspect.
This is IMPRESSIVE! 🤯 @Vincenthocy hardly moves a muscle as Youthful Deal trounces his rivals… @FCLOR_RACING | #HKracing pic.twitter.com/CsIJZKc0F9
— HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) June 4, 2023
Despite finishing eighth by six lengths, it was a better run than it appears. YOUTHFUL DEAL had excuses as he was held up at various stages from turning for home and after being steadied for room at the 150m mark, he lost all momentum. After 39 days to recuperate from that race, YOUTHFUL DEAL was back at the trials and won his 1200m heat easily. A he returns to his best distance on race day this week, he should be more competitive.
Trainer Mark Newnham has certainly been doing a good job with stable transfer and he should be able to land back-to-back wins one of those – ALL IS READY in the Class 5 Handicap over 1200m on the all-weather track.
All Is Ready becomes Mark Newnham's second Hong Kong win and first on the dirt course at Sha Tin! @LukeFerraris gets the grey home… 👏@mark_mnracing | #HKracing pic.twitter.com/n3aBlDgi3x
— HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) October 25, 2023
ALL IS READY is on his third start for the freshman trainer after 19 runs for Ricky Yiu and after a fair first-up fourth over 1400m on turf, the five-year-old broke through stylishly for Newnham second-up at this track and distance with a decisive 1.75-length win.
He has since trialled well, suggesting he has maintained his form, and Newnham may be able to get him higher in the handicap still.
