It may have been a case of asking for too much, too soon with Master Eight after his unbeaten record was dismantled when he disappointed on his first attempt at Group One level last time.

The Frankie Lor Fu-chuen-trained four-year-old had swept all before him in his first five starts but he tasted defeat in ignominious fashion as a $4.10 chance in the Centenary Sprint Cup on his last run.

Having been drawn widest of the eight runners, Master Eight never looked comfortable when racing without cover for much of the way and there was no hope of him threatening the judge as he finished nearly five lengths behind the winner and beat just one home.

But Lor feels it’s too soon to give up on Master Eight after just one setback and feels the way the race panned out last time was difficult for his star to overcome.

“I was a little bit disappointed but it was his first time in a Group One,” Lor said. “He had an outside draw, was racing wide and it all was just a bit difficult for a young horse.”

Master Eight has been working well ahead of his return to Sha Tin in the Class One Lam Tsuen Handicap (1,200m) and finished just half a length behind Wednesday’s impressive Happy Valley winner Nervous Witness in a recent barrier trial – Lor’s runner has a victory over that horse after soundly beating him in a Class Two at Sha Tin over 1,000m in November.

Group Ones beckon for Lor’s undefeated sprinter Master Eight – but when?

Lor is happy with Master Eight’s preparation and feels the conditions of the race will suit his youngster.

“He’s in good form,” Lor said. “We trialled him last week and he felt good. Joao Moreira is back on board and that is also a help. This time, we carry a light weight and that should be better for him.

“Last time it was a set weight of 126 pounds and this time he’s off 114, so that should help.”

In the opening Class One Nam Wan Handicap (1,600m) Lor saddles Healthy Happy, who ran below expectations when finishing last in the Group One Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup last time, but better is expected this time.

“I was a little bit disappointed with him last time but I think the track was too soft for him,” Lor said.

“Sometimes he’s faced with a strong race and he’s been running against Golden Sixty and some other good milers. This will be better for him.”

While he may not have Golden Sixty to contend with, Healthy Happy does take on Savvy Nine, who finished in front of the superstar miler when second to Russian Emperor in the Group One Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup (2,000m) last start.

Savvy Nine’s trainer Douglas Whyte has been in fantastic form with four winners and four seconds from his last 17 runners and he feels he stands a good chance of being in the winner’s enclosure once again.

“He’s come out of his last race in good condition,” Whyte said. “I’m obviously happy with the way he ran and the way he presents himself, which is why I’m backing him up. He gets in under good handicap conditions, so it’s a nice race for him.”

Savvy Nine last ran over a mile on his seasonal return in October, albeit at Happy Valley, and while Whyte feels that is not his runner’s optimum distance, he still expects a good run.

“It’s probably a tad short of his best but he comes in with a handicap allowance and I’m happy with him,” Whyte said.