HORSE Of Fortune (Callan Murray) fought his way to a thrilling win in the Group 3 Premier Plate Handicap at Sha Tin on Sunday.

“He was really tough in the running,” said Murray, who now numbers two G3 scores among his four Hong Kong wins. “I did have a pretty smooth run from the jump and just went up on the fence, I didn’t want to lose too much ground coming out and he went smooth to the line.”

Millard was delighted. The South African handler sourced the Stronghold gelding in his homeland as a G3-placed Listed winner. The six-year-old now has six Hong Kong wins on the board and two in this grade, having won November’s Sa Sa Ladies’ Purse Handicap at the course and distance.

“He’s a fantastic horse, he cost next to nothing and he’s done a great job,” Millard said. “He won the Ladies’ Purse this season and now he’s won this. He was a fairly ordinary horse in South Africa – he was around about the Group races but he wasn’t quite there and I think if anything he’s improved in Hong Kong.

“The plan is to run him in the mile Class 1 race on the last day of the season – we’ll just see what weight he gets,” he added. “He’s a versatile horse, he’s below top class but every race has to have a winner and that’s why you must enter. Callan gave him a really nice ride.”