Francis Lui Kin-wai inched closer to the lead in the trainers’ premiership with a double before Pierre Ng Pang-chi struck back with a late winner at Sha Tin on Sunday.

The two championship protagonists traded blows, with Lucky Gold and Superb Kid helping Lui draw within eight wins of Ng with their victories in the Class Four CUKH Alumni Cup (1,400m) and Class Three Shaw Alumni Handicap (1,400m), respectively.

However, second-season handler Ng regained a bit of breathing room with his 54th triumph this term, which came courtesy of Frantanck in the Class Three CW Chu And Wu Yee Sun Alumni Handicap (1,600m).

Lui’s brace started with an upset as Lucky Gold defied his $25 quote to record a dominant win for Jerry Chau Chun-lok.

After settling in the back half of the field, the Iffraaj gelding launched a powerful run down the centre of the track in the straight to easily beat Flying Mojito by a length and a half.

He was sent out at a big quote with lacklustre form to his name this season, but Lui believes a rain-affected track helped his charge’s cause.

Despite the track remaining in the good range, solid showers in the first half of the day took the sting out of the surface.

“I was surprised,” Lui said of Lucky Gold’s third Hong Kong victory at start 30 in the city.

“He liked the ground. When you look at his form in New Zealand, he liked the soft ground.”

Lucky Gold joined Lui’s stable after three consecutive wins in New Zealand – two of which were on soft tracks – when known as Maneki Neko.

Superb Kid sealed Lui’s double with a powerful display, storming home from eighth on the turn to salute as the $2.4 favourite.

The Sebring gelding wove through a gap under champion jockey Zac Purton to bolt in by two lengths from Beauty Missile.

“I think he also liked the ground because he always jumps out and then he can’t keep up the pace. I think the jockey also helped,” Lui said.

Superb Kid notched his second win in his first Hong Kong season, having been exported after winning one of his two starts in Australia when known as Sebring Sunset.

Frantanck was another galloper to relish the damp conditions, leading all the way under Angus Chung Yik-lai to narrowly beat the fast-finishing Flagship Warrior.

The son of champion galloper Frankel also thrived in the wet when winning under Chung two starts ago on March 10.

“He’s been running very well. Even though he was fourth last week he still ran a good race,” said Ng, referring to Frantanck’s fourth behind The Best Peach a week earlier.

“I saw the weather forecast and it said it was going to rain, which was great for him. He can just roll forward and the ground was soft enough for him today.

“Hopefully in the next two or three months, the bad weather will come and he can bring some more winners.”

Purton and Chau took home riding honours with doubles. Purton also won the opener, the Class Five New Asia Alumni Handicap (1,400m), on the David Hayes-trained Young Horizon.

Chau ended his day on a high when booting home Benno Yung Tin-pang’s emerging sprinter James Tak in the Class Three Morningside And S.H. Ho Alumni Handicap (1,200m).