Francis Lui Kin-wai has high hopes for an important meeting at Sha Tin on Sunday, with the champion trainer unloading most of his Classic Mile team on the 10-race card.

Lui saddles eight runners on the programme with the exciting Packing Hermod leading the way in the Class Two Racing Club Cup (1,400m).

One of two runners for Lui in the contest alongside the hat-trick-seeking Divano, Packing Hermod chases a fifth career win on his sixth start in his final outing before the first leg of the four-year-old series on January 31.

The son of Rubick’s only defeat was a respectable second in the Class Two Panasonic Cup (1,400m) on November 9 and he readily made amends with a powerful victory over the same course and distance on December 8.

Joao Moreira steers Packing Hermod to victory on December 8.

Bidding to stick his neck out as the one to beat in this season’s Classic Mile, Packing Hermod will once again have to defy a wide berth in gate 11 with Lyle Hewitson in the saddle.

“He’s good. He’s worked well and he’s kept ticking along,” Lui said. “He’s a progressive horse and he keeps improving all the time.”

Overcoming an outside barrier is something Packing Hermod has become accustomed since winning on debut at Happy Valley last season from gate two. The gelding has won from barriers eight, 12 and 10 en route to a rating of 93.

While he will race off level weights in the Classic Mile, Packing Hermod will be forced to give weight away to all 11 of his rivals on Sunday, with the exciting galloper carrying 130 pounds.

The competitive Class Two contest features four other Classic Series aspirants in the shape of Divano (123 pounds), Rubylot (123), Glory Elite (120) and Johannes Brahms (120).

While Lui is unsure who will ride Packing Hermod in the feature at the end of the month, he is certain a step up to a mile won’t pose any problems.

“I’m not too sure who will ride, maybe Zac [Purton], we will have to see,” Lui said. “Of course, 1,400m this weekend will be fine for him and a mile will not be a problem in the Classic Mile.”

The step up to 1,400m may, however, stretch stablemate Divano further than his optimum distance, with the son of Brave Smash racing exclusively over 1,200m on his nine career starts.

Divano has claimed four wins in that time and fell in last time out under James McDonald when it looked like he had the race in the bag 200m from home.

Divano salutes under James McDonald at Sha Tin.

He jumps from the inside gate under Alexis Pouchin, who teamed up with Lui when booting home Baby Crystal at Sha Tin on Sunday.

“We have to try and step him up because we’ve entered him for the Classic Mile,” Lui said. “I’m not sure about it, but he’s a four-year-old so we’ll step him up and see how he does.”

Lui will also be hoping Steps Ahead can climb up the ratings from his current mark of 74 to guarantee himself a spot in the Classic Mile when the ever-consistent Written By gelding contests the Class Three Pak Shek Au Handicap (1,600m).

While he has only returned to the winners’ enclosure once from his seven starts, Steps Ahead has finished second on four occasions and filled third place in his other appearance.

“He’s a nice horse,” Lui said. “I’m trying to get a few more rating points for him looking at the Classic Mile as well. He’s very consistent and hopefully he can do well again to get him in there.”

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