Michael Cox
Trainer Frankie Lor Fu-chuen is happy to let jockey Zac Purton pick Bottomuptogether's next race after the sprinter impressed at Happy Valley.
Bottomuptogether won his first three starts last season but had been unlucky in four starts this term before a breakthrough Class 2 win over 1000 meters in the Jackson Handicap last night.
The half-length win off a rating of 85 will put the four-year-old's rating into the 90s and even though there are limited options for sprinters rated that high, Lor is prepared to wait for Purton's preference.
"He is the champion so he is always very busy, so let's see when he is available and what he thinks," Lor said. "He rode him perfectly so I will let him choose."
From barrier one Purton pushed Bottomuptogether before Matthew Chadwick on Youthful Spirit challenged for the lead. Lor was pleased with the way Bottomuptogether was able to settle enough for Purton to sit behind the leader and save a sprint for the finish.
The form around Bottomuptogether included subsequent winners Rubylot, Raging Blizzard and Packing Hermod, horses that are headed to feature races soon. Lor said that if Bottomuptogether was to end up in the big races with those former foes he would need to build up physically.
"Early on he looked like a group horse but he isn't strong enough yet. He is only a small horse, he weighs 1050 pounds," the trainer said. "If we can get him up to 1100 pounds that would be good."
Bottomuptogether now has four wins from eight starts and has been unplaced just once. That sixth, when beaten just 2 1/2 lengths, was at 1400m, his only start beyond 1200m.
Lor hasn't given up that the speedy son of Sheamus Award could compete over 1400m or even further in time though, especially since he is a full brother to Lor's five-time winner Beauty Live, which won at a mile.
"He just needs to learn to relax a little more," Lor said.
Bottomuptogether's owner So Kai-sing received a "PPG Bonus" of HK$1 million, which is given when a horse that arrived in Hong Kong as an unraced prospect is able to win in Class 2.
michael.cox@singtaonewscorp.com
Zac Purton rides Bottomuptogether (No 6) to victory in the Jackson Handicap over 1000 meters. SING TAO
