Caspar Fownes hopes Straight Arron is ready for Hong Kong’s richest race after his stable star booked his ticket to the international meeting by winning Sunday’s Group Two BOCHK Jockey Club Cup (2,000m) at Sha Tin.

Winless from his three starts over 1,400m, 1,600m and 1,800m this season, Straight Arron’s step up to 2,000m was a successful one as the five-year-old recorded the biggest victory of his career.

“It’s always nice [when a plan comes together],” Fownes said. “This horse is a quality animal, and he’s just getting to where he should be now.”

Sent off a $5.7 chance for the Group Two contest, Straight Arron was forced to defy a slow early pace and a wide berth as he returned to the distance for the first time since he was fifth in last term’s equally pedestrian Hong Kong Derby.

With the Jockey Club Cup’s first 800m run more than two seconds slower than standard and Straight Arron settling towards the rear of the field, the odds were stacking up against Vincent Ho Chak-yiu’s mount until Glorious Dragon’s rider, Andrea Atzeni, decided to apply some pressure to the front runners, Money Catcher and Sword Point.

Straight Arron tracked Glorious Dragon around the final bend, peeled off his heels as the Jockey Club Cup runners entered the home straight and finished strongly to beat Sword Point by three-quarters of a length, with Money Catcher in third place.

After registering his 15th win this season, Fownes wasted no time in nominating the HK$36 million Group One Hong Kong Cup (2,000m) as his stayer’s next assignment.

“That was a good result for us, and it gives us a chance to get into the big race, which is always tough against the top stayers in the world,” Fownes said.

“He’s earned his spot there, and if he can run in the first four or five on international day, it’s a job done really.”

After Straight Arron’s triumph in May’s Group Three Queen Mother Memorial Cup (2,400m), the galloper gave a good account of himself when he finished fourth behind Russian Emperor in the Group One Champions & Chater Cup (2,400m).

“I called it a while ago that I thought he was a 120 [rated] horse, and he’s still got a chance to improve on those numbers,” Fownes said.

“If he couldn’t win the way I had him, then I hadn’t got him to where I thought I had.”

Ho, who had not ridden Straight Arron since his first-up fifth of six in September’s Group Three Celebration Cup (1,400m), was impressed with Straight Arron’s performance in overcoming the unsuitable early pace.

“At first, when they were going very slow, he was a little bit keen,” Ho said. “Matthew [Chadwick] outside me [on Russian Emperor] tried to push me in as well, but when they quickened up, I felt more confident.

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“He’s a good horse, Straight Arron, and 2,000m is his best distance as well. We had some prep races before this, and he’s coming up with this form, so we’re glad to see his performance today. He’ll improve from this and perform at the internationals.”

In what promises to be a red-hot Hong Kong Cup, Straight Arron’s potential opponents include Group One Cox Plate (2,040m) hero Romantic Warrior, Aidan O’Brien-trained colt Luxembourg and French raider Horizon Dore.