There will be no Classique Legend or Hot King Prawn in Monday’s Group Two Sprint Cup (1,200m) at Sha Tin and Frankie Lor Fu-chuen hopes his trio of runners can capitalise in a race that changed complexion when the two big guns were removed on Wednesday.

He has no doubt there is still a clear horse to beat – “Wellington looks really good” – but he is confident his three-pronged attack of Big Party, Fat Turtle and Winning Dreamer are ready to perform.

“They should all run well. Last start Wellington finished really well but he was carrying 113 pounds then and now he’s got 123,” Lor said, referencing the Richard Gibson-trained rising star’s emphatic Class One victory last month.

Winning Dreamer finished three and a half lengths behind Wellington on that occasion in what was his second consecutive defeat after stringing together six straight wins to begin his career.

It was an ill-fated step-up to 1,400m in January to appease the Classic Mile hopes of connections that ended Winning Dreamer’s winning streak, while he suffered his first loss at his preferred 1,200m behind Wellington last start.

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Ahead of his seventh run of the campaign, Lor expects Winning Dreamer to put in a strong showing but is not sure if he has enough left in the tank to push onto the Group One Chairman’s Sprint Prize later this month.

“I’ll know more after the race once we see if he can step-up against some better horses. It’s the first time he’s faced some of these better horses so we will know after the race whether he can go to the next level. He’s still a four-year-old so next season he should be much better,” Lor said.

Matthew Poon Ming-fai takes the ride for the first time and was nothing but positive after a gallop on Thursday morning.

“Matthew said he’s going well. I told him that the horse usually hangs in a little bit, that’s why I got him to gallop him once so now he knows what to do in the race,” Lor said.

Big Party also finished behind Wellington at his last start but jockey Karis Teetan had gate nine to negotiate on that occasion as opposed to alley three this time, while Big Party is also eight pounds better off at the weights.

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“Last time he had a wide draw so once he jumped Karis had to take him back but usually this horse cannot come from last. This draw should be much better for him, he can jump and then settle third, fourth or fifth with some cover and he should be better,” Lor said.

Fat Turtle enters the race after a seven-week freshen-up and Lor is confident his six-year-old will also benefit from a better barrier after drawing five under Chad Schofield.

“He’s got a good chance because the last few times I’ve raced him at 1,200m he’s always had an outside draw and he’s had to go back and he’s finished strongly. This time with a better draw maybe he can sit midfield or a little bit further forward, which should be good for him,” the trainer said.