Jockey Keith Yeung Ming-lun is dreaming big after Fallon produced another power-packed finish to win the Class Three Tin Shui Wai Handicap (1,600m) at Sha Tin on Saturday.

In a race restricted to four-year-olds and billed as an unofficial Classic Mile trial, the Tony Cruz-trained Fallon swooped fast and late down the outside of the field to prove his last-start win at $69 was no flash in the pan.

While Fallon delivered at $15, the Zac Purton-John Size combination had to settle for second with $4 chance Simple Hedge and favourite Chancheng Glory finished fourth.

Yeung – who moved to seven winners for the season, just four behind his 2022-23 tally – hopes to stay aboard Fallon for the prestigious four-year-old series.

“I’m not so sure what Tony is planning but it feels to me he is a horse [who can be rated over 100], “Leung said. “I just asked Tony if I can ride him in the Derby.”

After beating just nine of his 39 rivals across his first three starts after arriving in Hong Kong, his last two performances may have come as a surprise to punters, but Yeung feels he is improving quickly.

“I like him a lot,” said the 35-year-old rider. “Like last time, he came from an impossible place to win the race. He’s just so impressive, he’s still green, a big baby. He’s got a lot to learn and I believe there is still a lot in him.”

Yeung’s wish to retain the ride in the Classic Mile on February 4 was given a boost by Cruz in his post-race debrief, with the trainer suggesting the partnership will remain intact.

“So far, so good,” Cruz said. “Looks like we’ll stick with the jockey as he knows the horse very well and he has Classic Mile potential for sure.”

Fallon’s win should result in a rating in the low 70s when his new mark is released on Monday and Cruz will be scouring the programme as he seeks to find another race for his improver to ensure a run in the first leg of the Classic Series.

“Even though he’s rated so low, I’m still going for that race,” Cruz said of the Classic Mile. “He’ll have one more run before that but I’ve got to find a race,” added the veteran, with the Class Three 1,600m race on January 28 – one week before the Classic Mile – a possible option.

“I think this horse is still maturing and he’s doing everything very nicely. He’ll be fitter and better and can go further for sure, maybe all the way to the [Hong Kong] Derby [2,000m].”

Cruz should have swept the final two races on the card but Beauty Crescent, another four-year-old series hopeful, was denied his first win in Hong Kong after getting no luck in running when finishing just a head behind $47 winner Amazing Duck in the Class Three Yuen Long Handicap (1,400m).

Despite that defeat, Cruz will be buoyed by a string of recent winners after rumours his stable was dealing with a virus.

“It’s coming together and I’m picking up slowly but surely,” Cruz said. “I got the flu too, you know. I don’t want to talk too much about it but the stable is coming back and getting stronger again.”