Punters will get an early chance to see if apprentice Alfred Chan Ka-hei has taken the next step with his riding when he partners Morethanlucky for his boss Frankie Lor Fu-chuen at Sha Tin on Sunday.
The young pilot will be looking to improve after landing nine winners in his first season and the six-year-old looks a stand-out in the Class Two Tai Mo Shan Handicap – he just needs a hand from the jockey after drawing awkwardly in barrier 11.
Morethanlucky is a very consistent galloper, he goes well fresh and 1,400m is his best trip.
Last season he finished second in the Group Three Chinese Club Challenge Cup over that distance, splitting quality horses Conte and Rattan – who both subsequently placed at Group One level.
Not only does Morethanlucky drop in class for this contest, he will carry just 123 pounds on his back thanks to Chan’s 10-pound claim.
He generally does his best work sitting just off the speed, but might need some luck slotting in from the wide gate and that shapes up as his biggest obstacle.
The wild card is Danny Shum Chap-shing’s Playa Del Puente, who is making his Hong Kong debut after an impressive start to his career in Ireland.
The three-year-old has won three of his four starts, his most recent one at Listed level, and looked terrific when running on strongly in a trial last week. He might not be ready yet, but is one to keep an eye on.
Speaking of trials, Mr Croissant caught the eye when running over the top of gun sprinter Hot King Prawn last week.
The Chris So Wai-yin-trained four-year-old impressed during his first campaign, winning two of his five starts and placings in the others.
He looks to have taken another step in the off-season and should prove hard to beat in the Class Three Sunset Peak Handicap (1,200m).
Mr Croissant should get a nice run in transit from barrier six with Zac Purton aboard, settling about midfield before getting every opportunity in the straight.
Blake Shinn ‘pinching himself’ as he fulfils Hong Kong dream just 12 months after breaking his neck
Even though there is only a field of nine, it looks a pretty competitive contest with Golden Sixty and Shimmer And Shine the main dangers.
Winning Method is set to continue his climb up the ratings when the talented youngster steps out in the Class Three Lantau Peak Handicap (1,000m).
Shum’s three-year-old has plenty of ability and looks well-placed to record his third straight win down the Sha Tin straight with Joao Moreira in the saddle.
His only defeat came on debut but there was no disgrace in that – with boom sprinter Aethero beating him by two lengths. The third horse was a further six-and-a-half lengths back.
Winning Method tuned up for this assignment with a comfortable trial victory last weekend and even though it is never easy coming up against older horses for the first time, the gelding should have a class edge here.
The threat might be David Hall’s veteran Jing Jing Win, who has drawn next to the outside rail, drops below his last winning rating and has the services of Purton.
