Francis Lui Kin-wai became just the sixth trainer to land 900 Hong Kong winners at Happy Valley on Thursday night, surging to the milestone thanks a monster treble.

After taking out the Class Five Hung To Handicap (1,200m) with $22.15 chance General Ace to open the card, Lui landed a late running double with two more outsiders to join John Moore, John Size, Tony Cruz, Caspar Fownes and Ricky Yiu Poon-fai as members of an exclusive club.

“Tonight is a bit of a surprise but, as a trainer, you want more and more winners,” Lui said. “I have proved to myself that I can train. I want to train as many winners as I can still. I just want to keep going.”

Wins to Joy Coming at $20.65 in the second section of the Class Four Tsun Yip Handicap (1,200m) and Golden Empire, who was sent off at $18.9 for the second section of the Class Three Mut Wah Handicap (1,200m), rounded out Lui’s 8,644-1 treble, with Lyle Hewitson riding both gallopers to victory.

It was Lui’s first three-timer since October 1 and moved the veteran handler to 35 victories for the season – 12 shy of long-time runaway leader Pierre Ng Pang-chi.

“I’ll keep going and I hope I can [win], of course,” Lui said of his chances of a first trainers’ premiership.

Elsewhere on Thursday night, Douglas Whyte ensured he will head into Russian Emperor’s H.H. The Amir Trophy (2,400m) title defence with added confidence after ending a nagging dry spell.

After beginning the midweek meeting winless since January 17, Whyte had gone 52 runners between drinks before Harmony Fire’s success in the Class Four Hoi Yuen Handicap (1,000m).

“They’d been running well without winning,” Whyte said from Qatar. “It gives the yard and myself a bit of a boost. You always worry when you leave the stable and step away for a couple of days.

“I’ve got a good team behind me and it’s nice to get a winner under the belt while I’m away. It will give them a bit of confidence as well.”

Super Eagle ended a far more agonising wait for victory two races earlier, landing his maiden Hong Kong success in the first section of the Tsun Yip Handicap, breaking through at start 23 after 10 minor placings.

Six of those placings had come in succession before Thursday night’s victory and the relief on trainer Chris So Wai-yin’s face was there for all to see.

“Finally. It’s just good for [owner Leung Lun-ping]. Every time he’s chasing me asking ‘when, when, when?’ The horse is honest but just no luck,” So said after Super Eagle finished strongly from forward of midfield to grab Golden Long late and prevail by half a length.

Backing up eight days after running third from gate 10 at $4.6 under Zac Purton, Super Eagle was sent off $4.5 this time and didn’t disappoint his loyal supporters from barrier four under Karis Teetan.

“Even last run he ran well but it was just the draw. Zac was three wide all the way but he came back and ran third, so we backed up again,” So said.

“Most importantly, I didn’t know how long I could keep his form. That’s the problem. I’ve run him a lot in the past three months. In this race he backed up and Zac could not ride him as he only had 117 pounds.

“But he’s an honest horse and we’ll keep trying. After the win maybe we’ll give him a small break and bring him back.”

Meanwhile, Jerry Chau Chun-lok will be examined by the Jockey Club’s chief medical officer before taking part in Friday morning’s barrier trials at Sha Tin.

Stood down from the final two races at Sha Tin on Monday with flu-like symptoms, Chau was initially declared fit for Thursday night’s meeting before being replaced aboard his five rides late on Wednesday afternoon.