Lucky Sam Gor faces must-win Sha Tin test for Derby dream as Newnham eyes Classic Cup qualification

Lucky Sam Gor’s Derby dream is alive – but on Saturday at Sha Tin, he has to keep earning it.

The Mark Newnham-trained four-year-old has been one of the season’s sharpest improvers, with four wins already and a ratings jump from 45 to 76, turning him from a low-grade project into a genuine Four-Year-Old Classic Series prospect.

Saturday’s assignment is a Class 3 (60-85) four-year-old handicap, a race Newnham has targeted because the points race for the Hong Kong Classic Cup on March 1 is getting tighter by the week. 

“I probably would have preferred if he’d had enough points to go straight to the Classic Cup, but I’ve got to run him again,” Newnham said. “But he’s a pretty solid horse. He’s come through the last win well.”

Newnham has also been blunt about how fine the margins are getting around the cut line.

“Yeah, I think 80 will be about the cut-off,” he said of the squeeze that has owners desperate to qualify for the Classic Cup and, ultimately, the BMW Hong Kong Derby on March 23.

Lucky Sam Gor’s surge has come with Jerry Chau Chun-lok aboard for three of those wins, but with Chau travelling to Saudi Arabia to ride sprinter Self Improvement, Newnham turns to Australian visitor James Orman to steer in this must-win test.

“Of course, James will suit him as well – he rides on a nice long rein, rides patiently and gets horses to relax – and that’s what we need,” Newnham said, hoping the riding style will help a horse who is still learning to settle as the distances stretch.

For Lucky Sam Gor, the path is getting narrow but is clear: qualify for the Cup, then give the owners a genuine Derby shot. Newnham believes the Classic Cup trip will be within reach.

“Well, definitely 1800 meters, no problem,” he said, stressing the key is learning to relax – something the gelding is improving at with each run.

“He's learning to relax better in his races, which is the key to it,” Newnham said. “The other day, he jumped quickly, grabbed the bridle and then as soon as Jerry got him to get back on the cover, he was fine. He switched off until he wanted him to go.

“The start before he was stuck three deep outside the lead, no cover and quite keen at 1400m. So, I'm probably a little more confident now, after his last run at a mile.”

While Lucky Sam Gor fights his way into the next leg, Newnham’s Classic Series team already has two headline acts with their programs mapped out.

Classic Mile surprise runner-up Infinite Resolve – who has been based at Conghua since his last start – will have a mile trial at Sha Tin next Friday as part of his Classic Cup preparation, with Newnham noting he has “only had the one run at a mile.” The Classic Mile beaten favorite Invincible Ibis – whose sixth has been the subject of intense scrutiny – will trial the same day but over 1200m on the dirt, a sharper tune-up for a horse with more race grounding.

The trainer’s South African four-year-old Aerodynamics is among those ‘on the outside looking in’ as far as the Derby is concerned. Newnham described the horse’s unplaced run last weekend as unlucky and Aerodynamics will now line up in a 2,000m Class 3 on Classic Cup day in what is likely a last ditch play to qualify for the Derby. 

Overall, Newnham’s message is simple – for Lucky Sam Gor, and for the whole four-year-old crop: “If they’re good enough, they’ll get there.”