Alexis Badel is confident Happy Together can successfully make the jump to Group Two level when the in-form galloper lines up in Sunday’s Chairman’s Trophy (1,600m) at Sha Tin.

Badel has guided Happy Together to five victories from eight starts this term and the French rider believes the Frankie Lor Fu-chuen-trained gelding is poised for a bold showing stepping back to a mile.

“He’s doing pretty well and I can’t fault him,” Badel said. “He’s been in great form and hopefully he can carry on this week.”

Formerly trained by Richard Gibson, Happy Together arrived at Lor’s stable rated 73 at the beginning of the season and has rapidly risen to a mark of 105 under the guidance of the 2021-22 champion trainer.

After collecting two wins from three outings over the Sha Tin 1,600m at the beginning of the campaign, the son of Dragon Pulse successfully took out a Class Two contest over the Happy Valley mile before reigning supreme in the Group Three January Cup (1,800m).

Luckless in the Group Three Centenary Vase (1,800m) at Sha Tin, Happy Together kept on from the rear of the field for second in February’s Class One Shan Kwong Handicap (1,650m) before bouncing back to winning ways last time out.

Carrying 133 pounds, the five-year-old skipped through the rain-softened Sha Tin turf to narrowly prevail at Class Two level over 1,800m.

“I think last time was very important and it was a great win carrying top weight,” Badel said. “I thought he was pretty tough and I was very pleased. I’m looking forward to seeing if he can step up to this kind of class.

“He’s a horse with a good turn of foot and he likes to run late. We’re coming back to a shorter trip and from gate 10 I assume we’ll be somewhere in midfield. He’s pretty versatile and it all depends on the pace.”

Three other Lor-trained gallopers line up in the 13-runner contest, with Sword Point, Healthy Happy and Money Catcher vying for a portion of the HK$5.35 million prize pot, while Russian Emperor and Beauty Eternal also feature.

Badel sits on 29 victories for the season and takes a solid seven-strong book to the 10-race programme.

The 34-year-old teamed up with Invincible Sage earlier in the season and will reunite with the David Hall-trained speedster in the Group Two Sprint Cup (1,200m).

“He’s a lovely ride and he’s been in good form,” Badel said. “He showed that he could handle the distance last time and I thought it was a very good run from him. I’m expecting him to run well again.”

Invincible Sage notched a hat-trick of wins over the straight course before he was narrowly denied by Whizz Kid in the Group Three Bauhinia Sprint Trophy (1,000m).

Doing the best of his work in the closing stages, the son of Thronum finished sixth over 1,200m in February before placing over six furlongs and the minimum trip last month.

Taking on the world’s highest-rated sprinter Lucky Sweynesse and two-time Group One runner-up Lucky With You, Badel admits barrier eight could present an added task.

“The gate could be a problem, we’ll see what happens,” Badel said. “Like Happy Together, he’s pretty versatile – he can do anything. Hopefully we can get in the right spot and hit the line strong.”