Francis Lui Kin-wai continued his hunt for a first trainers’ championship at Sha Tin on Sunday with a pair of winners that came as a surprise to the veteran handler.

Ticking over to 37 victories from 49 meetings, Lui reduced the gap between himself and current leader Pierre Ng Pang-chi to 12 thanks to the successes of Call Me Glorious and Universal Horizon.

The 65-year-old conditioner introduced exciting youngster Call Me Glorious to racing when the son of No Nay Never impressively took out the second section of the Class Four Citi Ultima Handicap (1,200m).

After settling on the coattails of the leader, Call Me Glorious travelled powerfully into the lead at the 400m marker before galloping his rivals into submission to finish two lengths clear of favourite Geneva.

While the three-year-old had won his past two barrier trials at Sha Tin, Lui was shocked to see him get off the mark at the first time of asking.

“I’m very surprised really,” Lui said. “I knew he had a chance because he showed speed in his barrier trials, but a race and a trial is very different. Now, he has definitely proved himself.

“I think we’ll stay at 1,200m. He may go up in class, but it’s not a problem because it’s always better to carry a lighter weight. I hope he can learn a little bit more this year and then we’ll see what happens.”

The commanding success took jockey Lyle Hewitson to 24 victories for the season and ensured the South African jockey signed off on a winning note before starting his six-meeting suspension on Wednesday.

Lui secured his brace when Universal Horizon got the verdict in a blanket finish in the Class Three Citi Insurance Services Handicap (1,600m) under Jerry Chau Chun-lok.

After finishing down the field in his two starts this term, Universal Horizon capitalised on a favourable draw to claim the contest, in which the first five past the winning post could only be separated by a neck.

“I’m surprised again,” Lui said. “I thought he got beaten, but the slow-motion replay was a bit better. The race was quite open and he got a better draw. Hopefully, we’ll just keep going and winning races.”

Lor stays Loyal to Bo Bo

He may have been made to wait slightly longer than anticipated, but Loyal Bo Bo’s comfortable maiden victory in the Class Four Citi Wealth Advisory Services Handicap (1,400m) was still particularly satisfying for trainer Frankie Lor Fu-chuen.

After he was sent off as a warm favourite on his debut over 1,000m in November – where he finished fourth under Zac Purton – Loyal Bo Bo failed to get his head in front on three subsequent starts.

“That was very nice,” Lor said. “We trialled him over 1,000m before his first run and he had gate speed and was very quick, but he hasn’t been able to win.

“We tried 1,400m this time, he has a very big stride. I think he is quite progressive, quite honest and quite good. Later on, he can step up to 1,600m.”

Before Loyal Bo Bo made his first racecourse appearance, Purton persuaded David Hayes to not run one of his most exciting youngsters in the same contest because the six-time champion jockey thought Lor’s speedster was a Class One horse.

While Loyal Bo Bo will have to improve plenty to reach those heights, Sunday’s two and three-quarter length success under Derek Leung Ka-chun certainly suggests the son of Swiss Ace is a horse going places.

Another Diamond for HK owners

Hayasugi’s triumph in Saturday’s Group One Blue Diamond Stakes (1,200m) at Caulfield marked a first top-level success for Hong Kong-born owners Cara Mok and Alex Leung.

Now based in Australia, the husband and wife duo watched their filly swoop down the outside from the rear of the field under Jamie Kah to prevail by a neck.

“It’s so exciting,” Mok told Racing.com. “My brain is blank, my heartbeat stopped for a whole few seconds. It’s really, really exciting.”

While some connections were present at Caulfield, a handful gathered in Hong Kong to watch Hayasugi, meaning “very fast” in Japanese, salute at $16.

Bought for A$45,000 as a weanling, Hayasugi was the second consecutive winner of the Blue Diamond for Hong Kong owners, after Little Brose took out the Group One contest last year.

Owned by Peter Young Wai-po and David Young Yuk-chuen, Little Brose grabbed two wins from nine starts in Australia before joining the Hayes yard in December to continue his racing career in Hong Kong.

While Little Brose is yet to make his debut in the city, Hayes confirmed the son of Per Incanto is set to have his first barrier trial at Sha Tin soon.

“He’ll be trialling down the straight in a week or two, and he’s settled in really well. He’s a Blue Diamond winner and we don’t get many of them in Hong Kong, so hopefully it converts.”