BMW Hong Kong Derby (2,000m) favourite Beauty Eternal did not get out of first gear in his final hitout ahead of the HK$24 million Classic Series finale on March 19.

While Keith Yeung Ming-lun urged Computer Patch to lead, Zac Purton was content to let the John Size-trained Beauty Eternal run under his own steam in Friday morning’s first trial at Sha Tin.

The champion jockey didn’t move a muscle as the Derby hotpot placed third, not far behind his stablemate Tuchel, who finished second in the Classic Mile and fourth in the Classic Cup.

Another Derby contender, Straight Arron, finished fourth in Beauty Eternal’s heat, while the second trial saw Classic Series runners Beautyverse and Sweet Encounter end fifth and sixth, respectively.

Absent from the Classic Mile and Classic Cup after a couple of mishaps – lameness in late November and a pre-race incident on New Year’s Day – prevented him accelerating his rating to the levels required to contest those events, Beauty Eternal’s three consecutive victories have lifted his official mark to 94, which is the Derby field’s equal second highest behind 99-rated galloper Keefy.

Purton is reluctant to talk about Beauty Eternal – he has barely uttered a word about the four-time winner over the past two months – but he was happy to speak about his full book of rides on Saturday.

Hong Kong Hall makes his long-awaited debut in the Class Four Sa Po Handicap (1,000m) and Purton is confident the David Hall-trained newcomer will be hard to beat from his favourable draw of barrier 13.

Newnham hopes HK connections can help him hit the ground running at Sha Tin

“It’s a massive advantage, especially with the gate speed he’s got. He’s going to be able to jump and travel in a handy position comfortably,” Purton said of Hong Kong Hall, who won the most recent two of his eight trials in the city.

“He’s a nice enough horse. He seems quite professional. I jumped him out again recently. He’s learning to stand in the gates better. He’s doing everything better. I’m happy with him.”

Asian One, Laser Victory, Run Run Cool, Fast Buck, Flying Mojito, Circuit Stellar, Publicist, Red Lion and Golden Express are Purton’s nine other mounts, with most of them likely to be race favourites.