Frankie Lor Fu-chuen is hoping last season’s Classic Cup winner Stormy Grove can pass his first test on the road to the Group One Hong Kong Mile when he tackles Monday’s Group Two Sha Tin Trophy (1,600m).

The Toronado galloper soared from the back of the field to collect the second leg of last season’s Classic Series, before running a mighty race to finish third in the Hong Kong Derby (2,000m) behind Invincible Ibis, whom he reopposes on Monday.

His season ended prematurely on his next start, however, as he bled from both nostrils when finishing down the field in May, but he has been nursed back to health by Lor and ran a screamer on return in the Group Three Celebration Cup (1,400m), once again finishing third to Invincible Ibis.

He was ridden by Jerry Chau Chun-lok for the first time on that occasion, but with Chau engaged to ride Voyage Bubble, Lor will give the reins to in-form jockey Derek Leung Ka-chun.

He galloped under Leung for the first time last week and with that run over an inadequate 1,400m under his belt, Lor thinks there is plenty more to come from one of his stable stars.

“After he bled, I gave him more time and only had one trial for him, which he ran really good in. For me, he was maybe only 70 per cent fit before his return run, so he ran a good race,” Lor said.

“I needed to change jockeys, because Jerry is riding Voyage Bubble, so Derek will be riding him on Monday. Derek will sit on him on Friday to check on the horse and make sure he’s healthy.

“I think he’s improved since the Celebration Cup, so I hope he will run well.”

On paper, Stormy Grove could be a candidate for December’s Group One Hong Kong Cup (2,000m), with the division looking decidedly weaker with the retirement of Romantic Warrior, who had won the last four runnings.

Lor is not convinced about going further with Stormy Grove, however, and is pointing him down the mile path – provided his rating can improve.

“I will keep looking at the 1,600m distance or him. 1,800m might also be OK for him, but 2,000m I think is a bit too far,” Lor said.

“It will depend on how he runs on Monday, but the obvious target for him is the Mile in December. First, he will go to the Group Two Jockey Club Mile in November after this, and then hopefully on to the International Races.”

The Sha Tin Trophy field was reduced to 11 when Invincible Ibis was withdrawn on Thursday after sustaining a ligament injury.

Fresh off the brilliant win of Massive Sovereign at Happy Valley on Wednesday, who is also December bound, Lor has a string of good chances on Monday, including the promising Salon S in the Class Three Wo Che Handicap (1,400m).

The Zousain galloper ran riot in his first four starts, going from pillar to post on all four occasions despite pulling his head off early and building leads that looked unsustainable.

He lost little in defeat when going for a five-timer to end last campaign and Lor tinkered with the gear and his running style on reappearance last month, where he ran a good third when taking a sit behind the speed.

With that run under his belt, Lor thinks he will have learned plenty, but needs his talented four-year-old to play ball with jockey Matthew Poon Ming-fai from barrier seven.

“In the straight, he was hanging a bit, but he still ran really well. I hope he can lead by himself this time, but if not, he can sit behind the leaders as we think that’s OK now,” Lor said.

“Sometimes you need to run the horses to know more – last time, he followed horses and looked OK, and I also changed some gears for him, using the tongue tie, which seemed to help.

“I just hope he can run in a straight line this time. When a horse is hanging, it really doesn’t help the jockey.”

Monday also marks the return of Smart Golf, a dual winner last term who has been absent since a bleed after his last run and subsequent right front fetlock bone injury in August.

He gets his campaign under way in the Class Three Lek Yuen Handicap (1,200m), but Lor is urging caution and thinks he may need the run.

“He also bled after his last run. I’ve trialled him two times – first one wasn’t good, but the second one he looked much better,” Lor said.

“I don’t think he’s 100 per cent fit, but sometimes you just need to run them because we’ve already trialled him twice now.

“You need to give horses who bleed a bit more time to rest – you cannot push them too hard. We’ve scoped him and he’s had no problems, so it’s time to get him to the races.”

On a busy day for his stable, Lor also runs Can’t Go Wong, Illuminous, Lucky Balerion, Chiu Chow Golf and Daily Fun.