Harry Bentley's big week begins with success on smart young sprinter, now for the BMW Hong Kong Derby on Stormy Grove

A double at Sha Tin was the ideal start to a big week for Harry Bentley, who now heads to Sunday’s BMW Hong Kong Derby and his leading chance on Frankie Lor Fu-chuen’s Stormy Grove.

Bentley struck in consecutive races, winning on Devas Twelve before guiding Lor’s Smart Golf to an all-the-way victory from a wide gate, making it three wins from five starts and adding to the stable’s momentum before Derby day.

Bentley said Smart Golf was still learning and improving mentally with each run.

“He gave me a feeling like he has come on again, more sensible,” he said of the four-year-old. “Previously I felt like he was leaving a bit in reserve, and there was some greeness there, but each run he takes a step forward mentally. He is getting there and becoming a full package - he is a big horse, strong in stature and should get even better in time.”

Lor shared that view after the race, saying the horse’s attitude is beginning to match his raw ability.

“He is definitely improving, I was worried about barrier ten and the track bias – I thought the leaders weren’t going so well, so I told Harry if somebody else wants to lead, let them - you can follow,” he said. “We thought Red Sea would lead and he didn’t.

“He is a big strong horse, but before he was a bit of a chicken – now he is getting better.”

The focus now shifts to Stormy Grove, with Bentley due to ride the Classic Cup winner in trackwork on the Sha Tin turf this morning for the first time since that breakthrough victory.

The key Derby question is whether Stormy Grove can reproduce his trademark late sprint in a race that can often become tactical and stop-start.

In the Classic Cup, the first 600 meters was run in 35.76 seconds from a standing start, including a slick 21.86 sectional from the 1600-meter mark to the 1200m. Not only did the race shape ruin the chances of some on-pace runners, it helped Stormy Grove settle into a rhythm before letting down powerfully to run his final 600m in 34.35 seconds and swamp the field. 

Bentley believes that turn of foot is not entirely dependent on a fast-run race.

“He isn’t going to get those sectionals but his run before that, they went a normal gallop and he was able to clock a sub-22 second final 400 meter sectional to finish,” Bentley said. “He was able to do it off an even gallop. Of course, I am hoping for an evenly run race, if he gets things his way and can drop his head in the race, he can show that turn of foot again. 

“I wouldn’t swap him for any other horse in the race - he has improved race-to-race - there are things that need to go his way, but you can say that for every horse.”

Lor, who won the Derby in 2019 with Furore, will also saddle Numbers and Regal Gem in Sunday’s field.