David Hall’s Atullibigeal passed his BMW Hong Kong Derby audition at Sha Tin on Saturday, his meritorious fifth in the Class Two Lung Kong Handicap (1,400m) sparing him the fate that befell his then stablemate, Captain Win, in similar circumstances last season.

Tony Cruz-prepared Circuit Stellar won the Lung Kong Handicap by one and three-quarter lengths to make it back-to-back all-the-way victories in Class Two contests over 1,400m since he reunited with Zac Purton and reverted to front-running tactics.

However, away from the Lung Kong Handicap winner, all eyes were on Atullibigeal to see if his performance would be sufficiently good for Hall to keep him in the Derby, next weekend’s 2,000m heat for which he is a $26 dark horse with overseas fixed-odds bookmakers.

Hall withdrew Captain Win from the 2022 Derby line-up because he pulled too hard en route to finishing second in last year’s corresponding Class Two event eight days out from the city’s most prestigious race, but Atullibigeal convinced the Australian trainer he deserves his shot at the HK$24 million feature.

Atullibigeal settled at the back of the Lung Kong Handicap field under Luke Ferraris, tracked Winner Method around the home turn and peeled off to make his run to the line down the centre of the track.

“Definitely onto the Derby. I was pretty happy – that was from barrier nine out of nine,” Hall said.

“I sort of pictured the race beforehand with a slow tempo and then a dash home. It was always going to be hard for him to get among the first three.

“He’s run fifth and if you have a look at the sectionals, if you can reel off a [closing] 21.8 in the Derby, you’re going to be competitive.”

Only Lung Kong Handicap runner-up Fantastic Treasure recorded a faster final 400m than Atullibigeal, who has won contests over 1,200m and 1,600m away from the Classic Series ahead of his Derby assignment.

“He’s got the talent, but the mindset has always been a bit tricky with him,” Hall said. “He can get on his toes, but he relaxed today. If he comes back next week in that sort of form, I’m really happy for him to be in the race. I’m looking forward to it.”

Before Atullibigeal pleased Hall with his Lung Kong Handicap fifth, Speedstar won the Class Five Hau Wong Handicap (1,400m) under Hugh Bowman to break through at his ninth attempt and improve Hall’s tally to 25 victories this campaign.

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Second in his only previous Class Five event and a last-start Class Four third, Speedstar got the better of $2 favourite Asian One in a driving finish, staying on well to prevail by a neck.

No jockey has ridden more winners for Hall this season than Bowman, and no trainer has supplied Bowman with more winners this season than Hall, with the Australians celebrating nine victories together.

Bowman, who also booted home Happy Golf in the Class Four Junction Handicap (1,200m) for Frankie Lor Fu-chuen, is third in this term’s jockeys’ championship on 32 wins from 246 rides.