The seventh race at Happy Valley on Wednesday night, the first section of the Class 3 Irving Handicap (1200m), sees the Hong Kong debut of Simply Brilliant for trainer Frankie Lor and jockey Nash Rawiller. Simply Brilliant is notable as the first son of champion galloper Frankel, rated the best horse of the modern era, to grace the Hong Kong turf.

The three-year-old, who raced as Senator when trained by Richard Fahey, won a maiden at Leicester and a novice at Carlisle at two. He raced twice in handicaps earlier this season, including a sixth in the Britannia Handicap (1600m) at Royal Ascot, a contest that has a proven record for producing solid Hong Kong horses.

In preparation for his Hong Kong debut, Simply Brilliant has had two trials, the latest when he was fourth past the post over 1000m on the Sha Tin turf on 7 November. That day, he finished ahead of both Seasons Bloom and Werther, who won the G2 BOCHK Wealth Management Jockey Club Mile (1600m) and the G2 BOCHK Jockey Club Cup (2000m) respectively last Sunday (19 November).

“His trial was great,” Rawiller said. “He’s pretty professional, he’s had that bit of race experience overseas obviously. He’s got to go to Happy Valley, which can be a bit tricky at times, but he’s a compact, speedy type who should get into the right spot from the nice draw. He should be competitive.”

The first section of the Class 3 Irving Handicap is set to jump at 10.20pm, with the opener, the Class 5 Dumbarton Handicap (1200m), beginning the card at 7.15pm.



Simply Brilliant (far side) takes to the Sha Tin turf in a barrier trial on 7 November, picture Hong Kong Jockey Club