Happy Agility promises to climb much higher than Class Four company this season and can get back to his winning ways second-up at Monday's public holiday meeting at Sha Tin.

Ricky Yiu Poon-fai's four-year-old comes off a first-up third in what looked an above-average contest and now finds himself matched against seemingly lesser opposition in the final leg of the Triple Trio.

Happy Agility has attracted the services of leading jockey Joao Moreira - who already has 13 winners in the six meetings so far - and the Magic Man will have to make the most of his mount's natural gate speed to overcome a tricky draw.

It was the same barrier, gate eight, that saw jockey Richard Fourie posted three wide with no cover last start in a solidly run race on the C course.

Fourie hunted forward from the draw, but ended up sitting one wide just off the speed, Happy Agility not helping his cause by taking the turn awkwardly and surrendering even more ground upon straightening.

Popping Candy's winning time from the race stacked up well against higher grade events later in the day and Happy Agility finished only two and three-quarter lengths from the victor.

He was also just over two lengths behind Divine Boy, who ran well in defeat at Happy Valley during the week.

Fourie did the right thing by going forward last time, but this looks a race where Happy Agility is more likely to find the front - and the pressure should not be too hectic on the speed.

Of course, the question mark for Happy Agility is the step up to 1,400m for the first time, but the horse seems tractable enough and the more sedentary tempo of the longer trip will allow him to take closer order without burning as much fuel early.

From barrier three, Zac Purton on Travel Number One won't let Moreira out of his sight and looms as a threat.

Danewin Express (Neil Callan) seems to have found his mark with an off-season drop and comes off a solid first-up run two weeks ago, when he ran home for third behind Best Hope. In the same race Glacier Blue (Brett Prebble) was disappointing, but perhaps he can be given a second chance in a weaker race.

Motif (Gerald Mosse) looked like he would be a top chance when resuming on opening day, but was withdrawn with lameness. This is a tougher task on paper than that race would have been - especially from barrier 11 - but he is another option.

In the opening leg, a Class Five over 1,600m, take Jack's Gem (Nash Rawiller) as banker after a great effort when resuming over 1,400m two weeks ago.

Lightning And Gold (Purton) goes in - he drops back in trip off a five day back-up after missing the start and getting too far back in a slowly run race at the Valley. Other options are Southchina Command (Vincent Ho Chak-yiu), Forest Colours (Chad Schofield) and take a punt on Oriental Fantasia, stepping up to a mile with the help of Kei Chiong Ka-kei's 10-pound allowance.

In the middle leg, a Class Four mile, Real Generous (Purton) is the one to stand out after his eye-catching return at the first meeting of the season. The eight-year-old was slow away that day, but flew home in sectionals that will have him right in this over a more favourable trip.

The only question for Real Generous and for some other fancies like Fighting Boy (Karis Teetan) and Terrific Master (Douglas Whyte) is the apparent lack of speed. None of the on-pace runners seem in good enough form to threaten, but Gold Talent (Fourie) and perhaps Malayan Pearl (Rawiller) could pinch a placing.