While Encountered steps into uncharted territory at Sha Tin on Sunday, he will have a familiar companion on board in the Group Three Celebration Cup (1,400m).

Unbeaten under Derek Leung Ka-chun, the four-year-old steps out in Group company for the first time after his late-season winning spree that coincided with the beginning of the Manfred Man Ka-leung-trained gelding’s association with the jockey.

After finishing ninth in the Hong Kong Derby (2,000m) under Silvestre de Sousa, Encountered joined forces with Leung to reel off three straight victories – two at Happy Valley and one at Sha Tin – and improve his rating from 83 to 105.

“We get along pretty well, and hopefully, the horse can keep improving – he improved a lot in his last couple of races,” Leung said.

While Encountered’s six Hong Kong wins have come over the conventional Sha Tin mile or the extended Happy Valley alternative, Leung is confident the galloper can fire fresh over seven furlongs.

“For his first-up run, I think he can handle it, but a mile or 1,800m is his best trip. He’s run very well at Happy Valley, but on the last day of the season, he won at Sha Tin again, so I think it’s no problem for him,” Leung said.

“He only had a soft trial, but he trialled very well. He’s improved a lot after that trial. No horse is 100 per cent for their first run, but it seems like he’s doing well.”

Encountered has drawn the outside gate of six in a race likely to be led by Healthy Happy, and Leung is hopeful he can give his charge an easy time of it in the run.

“There are only six runners, and he’s drawn the outside gate, so I’ll try to find cover and see how he can finish,” Leung said.

Rounding out Encountered’s opponents are Beauty Joy, Straight Arron, Circuit Stellar and The Golden Scenery, the latter of whom carries only 115 pounds and finds himself with a new jockey as a result.

While it was Brenton Avdulla who speared The Golden Scenery to an opening-day Class Two success, Italian rider Andrea Atzeni is thrilled to snag the ride so soon into his Hong Kong stint.

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“It’s a nice ride to pick up. I got the ride pretty much as soon as we knew he was only going to carry 115. He looks like an improving horse. There looks to be quite a bit of pace in the race, so he should be able to slot in behind a couple. I’ll ride him like a nice horse, and hopefully, he’ll finish off like he did last start,” said the well-supported Atzeni, who has a nine-strong book of rides at the season’s fifth fixture.

“The rides were picking up after the second meeting, and it’s a busy day for me on Sunday, so hopefully, I can get another winner on the board.”