Glorious Artist lowered the 1800m dirt course record significantly when taking the Class 3 Force For Good Handicap over the Sha Tin all-weather track on Saturday.
Glorious Artist, a winner of two races on the Wolverhampton Tapeta track last year when trained by Charlie Hills, had caught the eye at his Hong Kong debut at Happy Valley before a luckless effort at the city track at his most recent start.
Taking to the dirt for the first time, the Frankie Lor-trained Glorious Artist took up a handy position under Nash Rawiller, with 10-pound claimer Victor Wong ensuring a furious pace aboard leader Gran Master.
Tracking up nicely just behind the speed, Glorious Artist (124lb) produced plenty to hold off the Caspar Fownes-trained Royal Performer (133lb) by three quarters of a length.
“I decided to give him a go on the dirt because he had trialled well on the surface and because he had form on synthetic surfaces in England,” Lor said. “I still think he will be fine on turf – we are yet to try him on the Sha Tin turf and maybe that will be what we do with him next. We will wait and see the programme.”
Glorious Artist’s time of 1m 46.68s shaved four-tenths of a second off the previous track record, which had been set by the Fownes-trained Vanilla almost a year ago to the day.
Wong doubled his win haul with a brace from the first three races. The apprentice’s claim proved crucial in the opener, the Class 4 Jockey Club Scholarships 20th Anniversary Handicap over the straight 1000m, when Fownes’ Nice Fandango was able to lead all the way, while he produced a rails-hugging ride aboard the Dennis Yip-trained Winning Controller to add the Class 5 Innovative Changemaker Handicap (1400m).
“I wasn’t confident when I came to the races today – the form was hard to work out for some of these horses,” Wong said. “I’m very happy to have a double and hopefully we can continue from here.”
Hong Kong racing returns to Happy Valley on Wednesday night, before Champions Day at Sha Tin next Sunday.
Nash Rawiller guided the Frankie Lor-trained Glorious Artist to his first Hong Kong win in the Class 3 Force For Good Handicap in track record time, picture Hong Kong Jockey Club
