Dennis Yip Chor-hong will consider running Massive Sovereign in the Group One Champions & Chater Cup (2,400m) after the Hong Kong Derby (2,000m) hero struggled on a yielding track on Champions Day.

Sent off the $3.9 second elect in the Group One QE II Cup (2,000m), Massive Sovereign was never a serious threat and faded late to run eighth behind Romantic Warrior.

Zac Purton said the brilliant Derby victor “was gone at the 1,200m” because of the rain-affected surface.

“Massive Sovereign didn’t like the ground, the ground is too soft for him,” Yip said.

“He likes the going firm or good. Zac told me that at the 1,200m he lost his balance and changed legs a few times.

“We will wait for another race. I haven’t made a decision where we will go next but there is only one race for him. Maybe we will go there.”

Yip bounced back from Massive Sovereign’s defeat to land his first win since the Derby, with Phoenix Light storming home to claim the Class Three FWD Insurance CMB Wing Lung Bank Handicap (1,200m).

“The horse is in very good form and he really liked the soft ground,” Yip said.

Lor feels need for speed

Frankie Lor Fu-chuen unveiled a Classic Series prospect for next season when Top Gun survived an objection to make a winning Hong Kong debut on Sunday.

Sent forward by Karis Teetan to lead from barrier 14, the Time Test gelding stayed on strongly to outlast Second To None by a neck in the Class Three FWD Insurance NCB Handicap (1,400m).

Second To None’s rider Lyle Hewitson fired in an objection after Top Gun laid in over the final 100m, cramping him for room on the inside rail, but it was overruled by stewards.

“When you see the replay in the inquiry room, my horse [laid in] just a little bit and the second jockey still kept his horse going,” Lor said.

Top Gun arrived in Hong Kong with a strong record, winning his first three starts and running second in a Listed race at Randwick last year when known as Pushy.

Lor expects his prized recruit to progress to the Classic Series as a four-year-old, with the BMW Hong Kong Derby (2,000m) a potential target.

“His ex-trainer is Michael Freedman, who used to be in Hong Kong, so my son asked me to talk to Michael to see if he would sell the horse,” Lor said.

“He looks like he has ability. I was a little bit wary – first [Hong Kong] start, drawn 14 and the track today is not very good outside.

“I said to Karis ‘if you can jump fast, go forward’. When we bought the horse, we thought if the horse goes good, maybe next season he can go to the four-year-old series.”

Top Gun delivered Teetan a double after he also booted home impressive winner Lucy In The Sky.

Tsui singing at Sha Tin

Don’t Let Me Down was one of The Beatles’ countless hits and Me Tsui Yu-sak-trained gallopers with names inspired by the iconic British band have certainly been upholding that mantra of late.

After Sergeant Pepper’s victory for owner Athy Ngai Sze-yin at Happy Valley on Wednesday night, Lucy In The Sky followed suit in the same silks at Sha Tin on Sunday to continue a form spike for the battling Tsui.

While Tsui finds himself in a perilous position after managing only eight winners through the first 63 meetings of the campaign, he has reeled off three victories from the past four meetings to boost his slim chances of training beyond this season.

After strikes in the past two campaigns, Tsui still needs eight victories in Class Four or above from the final 21 meetings to satisfy the Jockey Club’s trainers’ benchmark, but he certainly hasn’t given up hope.

“It’s nice to have another winner. I hope I can keep going – of course I want to train next season,” Tsui declared as he attempted to avoid the rain while dashing between the winner’s circle and the parade ring.

Slow away last start before rattling home for second, Lucy In The Sky jumped much better on Sunday, sitting outside leader Glory Elite before pulling away to win by a length and a half.

“Last time he was a little bit green in the gate, but today he was quieter. He jumped well and it was much easier,” Tsui said of his three-year-old, who broke his maiden at start three.

While things went to plan for $4.3 second elect Lucy In The Sky from gate eight, it was quite the opposite for $3.1 favourite Divano in the stall next door.

Expected to take up the running after leading throughout to salute on debut last month, Divano ducked sharply to his right on jumping and nearly sent jockey Lyle Hewitson to the turf.

After doing well to stay aboard, Hewitson had to use Divano a bit to find a one-out, two back position before running home only solidly for third, five lengths off the winner.