He’ll chase a third win in the Group One Longines Hong Kong Sprint (1,200m) when he rides favourite Lucky Sweynesse in this year’s feature dash, but a decade ago this week champion jockey Zac Purton was reduced to a mere spectator as Lord Kanaloa routed his rivals at Sha Tin.

After winning the 2012 Hong Kong Sprint by two and a half lengths, the Takayuki Yasuda-trained Lord Kanaloa returned in 2013 and produced a performance that stunned fans, winning by five lengths despite racing wide throughout from barrier 12.

The five-length win remains the record for the widest-margin success at the Hong Kong International Races, and all Purton, who finished third aboard John Moore’s Frederick Engels, could do was enjoy the show.

“It’s hard enough to win any race sitting three and four wide, let alone an international sprint. Then to run away and win by five, it was quite incredible to watch really,” Purton said.

“What he did show us is that, obviously, he was a very good sprinter, but he won over a mile as well. It takes a very rare horse to be able to do that at that level, but obviously, he had the stamina, which he showed in how he was able to demolish the field the way he did in the Sprint.

“He was an impressive horse. He was big and strong. He was just all business.”

Lucky Sweynesse will face two Japanese rivals in this year’s Hong Kong Sprint – Mad Cool and Jasper Krone – as the Land of the Rising Sun launches a 14-strong assault on next weekend’s features, with the arrival of Hishi Iguazu, Lebensstil and Rousham Park on Sunday morning meaning all 24 international runners have arrived in the city.

While Yasuda doesn’t have a runner in the Hong Kong Sprint – a race he has won three times after Danon Smash’s 2020 success – the handler has sent Danon The Kid for the Group One Hong Kong Mile.

Hewitson tunes up for IJC

Lyle Hewitson will head into his third Longines International Jockeys’ Championship at Happy Valley on Wednesday full of momentum after saluting aboard Yellowfin at Sha Tin on Sunday.

Hewitson moved to 12 wins for the season with the success, while Francis Lui Kin-wai jumped back into second spot in the trainers’ premiership with his 17th victory of the campaign.

“It’s going to look like now he’s an out-and-out dirt horse, but he won like this in Class Four [on the turf],” Hewitson said after Yellowfin dominated the Class Three Humphreys Handicap (1,650m) from the front to win by three and a quarter lengths.

“He’s just got that smooth, perfect trip, where if he can go through each gear with less pressure in his own time and he can breathe, then he’s capable of a performance like this.

“He enjoyed the dirt, but it was more about the way he raced. When they came and matched him at the 600m and got to his girth, it just sort of put the light switch back on. I opened my hands, and he just got stronger.

“It was a win full of merit, and the team did a good job between runs for him to bounce back like this,” Hewitson added of the five-year-old, who saluted first up this season on the turf before disappointing on the same surface when sixth as favourite last time out.

Lui went on to ring up a double thanks to Holy Lake, who snared the Class Four Nathan Handicap (1,400m) under Vincent Ho Chak-yiu to become the veteran handler’s 18th 2023-24 success.

So finds recipe for Glory

Four days between runs seems the magic number for Chris So Wai-yin’s limited galloper Strive For Glory, with the six-year-old winning on the quick backup for the second time this year at Sha Tin on Sunday.

Fourth over 1,000m at Happy Valley on Wednesday, Strive For Glory switched to the Sha Tin all-weather circuit for the Class Five Cameron Handicap (1,200m) and proved too strong for his rivals.

“I spoke to the owner and said that in Class Five there’s not much choice, and I thought we would have a chance if we kept running him,” So said.

“After the race on Wednesday, he came back well, and that’s why we kept him going.

“The day after the race he rested, then I gave him a canter and put him in the race again. We do a lot of work after the race, we take the blood and check everything’s normal. If they’re well, and the horse looks great, we’ll keep on going.”