The sky seems to be the limit for Frankie Lor Fu-chuen’s Smart Golf after the progressive galloper led from pillar to post in a smart performance to collect the Class Three Kowloon City Handicap (1,200m) at Sha Tin on Sunday.

It was the perfect warm-up ahead of a huge week for the Lor stable, with Numbers set to start a huge chance in Sunday’s Hong Kong Derby (2,000m), and this four-year-old could be another to rate highly with more time.

Available at $3.5 30 minutes before the off, Smart Golf was slammed into a $1.8 favourite as if defeat was out of the question. As it turned out, those prohibitive odds were justified as he turned the race into a procession.

Stall 10 proved no barrier to success, with Harry Bentley quickly taking up the running, and when the field turned into the straight he quickly established a break on those who had tried to live with his early speed.

Wukong Jewellery came from out of the pack and made it interesting on paper, but the neck margin does not give Smart Golf the flowers he deserves given how far on top he was in the final 200m.

“I was a little bit worried, as he went up to Class Three and drew stall 10, because Red Sea likes to lead and he was drawn in stall one,” said Lor.

“Today, because of the track bias, leading is not that good. I told Harry that if someone else leads, you can follow them, and when no one wanted to go forward he was able to lead by himself.

“He’s a big, strong horse, but he’s been a bit tricky. He’s getting better and more relaxed and more smooth. I hope I can get more wins for the owner and I think he could win in Class Two.”

The win was the second leg of a Bentley double, with the British jockey also driving home Devas Twelve to a narrow short-head success in the first section of the Class Four Lung Kong Handicap (1,400m).

It was an inch-perfect ride, with Bentley slotting into the box seat before switching off heels heading into the straight and unleashing a smart turn of foot to gap his rivals and cling on from the fast-finishing Happy Boss.

A bleed post-race means he will have to sit on the sidelines for three months, but So will be hoping he can keep the winning sequence going when he returns.

“They went so fast in this race – the first sectional was 21.05 seconds and I was afraid he was going to be empty, but maybe the track helped today and I’m really glad he got home,” said So.

It was the second leg of a So brace, with Go Go Go landing the opening Class Five Sa Po Handicap (1,650m) on dirt, with his rider Karis Teetan also landing a double when Mr Incredible made a winning debut in the second section of the Class Four Nga Tsin Wai Handicap (1,200m).

If you ask John Size, his championship challenge was over before it even began, but those ahead of him in the trainers’ premiership will not be counting him out after he also recorded a double.

His day was headlined by one-time Derby hopeful Fit For Beauty landing the concluding Class Three Carpenter Handicap (1,400m) under Andrea Atzeni in another desperate finish on the card.

Settled two-out three-back, Atzeni spun into the middle of the track and came with a withering run to overhaul Packing Glory 100m out, before fending off a rather unlucky Mighty Masts by a short-head.

Dropped to 1,200m for his last start when lashing home, Size was adamant the writing was on the wall and so it proved.

“He was very good there, it’s not the first time he’s had to fight for it and he’s won races before by short margins, so it was heartening,” said Size.

“It looked as though he might struggle in Class Three but then last time he promised us a win and he delivered today.

“He probably could win again – there’s probably a limit to what he can do but he’s going to be quite a handy horse to have in Hong Kong.”

The first leg of Size’s double came in the form of Endeared, who saluted in the second section of the Lung Kong Handicap with Zac Purton in the saddle.

Turning into the straight plum last, the pair had to wait for room behind a wall of horses. When the gap finally arrived, they blasted home between horses and mowed down Just Follow Me by a head.

“The tempo of the race was suitable, he had to go back a bit to overcome the gate but it was a perfect ride by Zac and he managed to get up on the line,” said Size.

“The horse has been going well and training well of late and looked like a type who might win again up in class.”