It will be the same old Kiseki in his usual colours and with his trademark quirks that fronts up in Sunday’s QE II Cup, but he will be presented by a new trainer after his former handler Katsuhiko Sumii turned to God.

The Melbourne Cup-winning trainer opted not to renew his trainers’ licence in February, electing to become a priest instead – ending a golden 21-year career which saw him top the annual Japan Racing Association prize money charts five times and collect multiple Group Ones.

It was his former assistant Yasuyuki Tsujino who was handed the duties following Sumii’s retirement in February.

While some trainers spend years chasing Group One horses, Tsujino gets an opportunity to land his first major less than two months into his career.

“Since I was a work rider, the owner of Kiseki and I had a good relationship for a long time,” Tsujino said. “Last Autumn, she said if Kiseki was to continue his career as a racehorse, he could come to my stable.

“As for my new yard, a great horse like Kiseki – who is already a Grade One winner – brings a very positive influence to the staff.

“There is some pressure with it but it is good motivation, especially for the older staff in the stable, so I am delighted to have him. This is my first chance in a Grade One race.”

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After sharing a long and successful relationship, Tsujino said it was Sumii who was one of the first to call and congratulate him on his maiden winner last month, although he admits the 57-year-old can be hard to contact in his new profession.

Hong Kong is not foreign to the 39-year-old, who travelled to the city to ride Epiphaneia in work for Sumii before the 2014 QE II Cup, when he went on to run fourth in before becoming a top stallion.

After spending 13 years working as Sumii’s go-to man, Tsujino began studying for his own licence, something that the JRA is famously tough on.

“It was a very hard time to get a trainers’ licence in the JRA,” he said. “I worked hard, there is a writing test which is very difficult.

“I was spending a lot of my spare time when I was an assistant trainer studying for the exams, it was so hard to become a trainer.”

Kiseki has become somewhat famous for the antics which have seen him either bomb the start or tear along out in front, a trait Tsujino is hoping he might have put behind him late in his career.

It was Hong Kong’s barriers attendants that drew the rookie trainer to the QE II Cup, saying he believes his speedster will appreciate the extra care before the race.

“Hong Kong has the barrier attendant system where the JRA doesn’t have that system,” he said. “It is one of the reasons I chose to bring him to Hong Kong.”

Jockey Chad Schofield jumped the seven-year-old out of the barriers on Friday morning and offered positive feedback.

“I got [vision] from Hong Kong for the morning’s track work. The comments from jockey Chad Schofield were very positive, he got a great feeling from the horse and said the horse feels in good condition,” Tsujino said.

Kiseki will jump from barrier three on Sunday.