It was his biggest win in nearly three months and Brenton Avdulla’s recent victory aboard Howdeepisyourlove did more than just help rejuvenate the Australian jockey’s then-stuttering season.

In an effort that earned the praise of master trainer John Size, Avdulla speared Howdeepisyourlove, who was behind midfield on the rail turning for home, through traffic late to snatch victory.

Size wasn’t the only trainer impressed by Avdulla’s efforts, with the ride prompting South Australian trainer Will Clarken to offer the jockey the mount aboard Kuroyanagi for Saturday’s Group One Blue Diamond Stakes (1,200m).

“We watched him ride a double at the Chinese New Year meeting and I thought ‘imagine getting him on, it’d be awesome’,” Clarken told Australia’s punters.com.

While he also wove his magic when winning aboard California Voce a race earlier, Clarken revealed it was specifically Avdulla’s effort in defeating red-hot favourite Galaxy Patch aboard Howdeepisyourlove that prompted him to reach out.

“I like to keep an eye on Hong Kong racing because we’ve got a small pool of horses over there now and he’s riding so well,” Clarken said.

Avdulla certainly heads to Australia in top nick, with that Lunar New Year double the beginning of a stretch that has seen him reel off six winners from four meetings and jump back into the top 10 in the jockeys’ premiership.

It’s a far cry from Avdulla’s recent dry patch, which netted just one winner between November 29 and February 12.

Now he’s got a live chance of landing his first Group One success since the 2022 Epsom Handicap. It’s amazing how the wheel turns in racing and you just never know who is watching.

Warrior chases 10-furlong set

Romantic Warrior can become only the fourth galloper to win all four of Hong Kong’s marquee 2,000m contests with victory in Sunday’s Group One Gold Cup (2,000m), joining Designs On Rome, Vengeance Of Rain and River Verdon in the illustrious club.

Victorious in the 2022 Hong Kong Derby (2,000m), Romantic Warrior has twice won the Group One QE II Cup (2,000m) and the Group One Hong Kong Cup (2,000m), but the Gold Cup has so far eluded him.

He fell a head short of Golden Sixty 12 months ago in his only Gold Cup appearance and is expected to start a warm favourite this weekend, with Voyage Bubble and Straight Arron his chief rivals.

Another thing Designs On Rome, Vengeance Of Rain and River Verdon have in common is they have all been crowned Hong Kong Horse of the Year, an honour Romantic Warrior will have one hand on if he can salute this weekend.

With the Group One Cox Plate (2,040m) and the Hong Kong Cup already in the bag this season, a Gold Cup success would make it nearly impossible for Golden Sixty, Lucky Sweynesse or Voyage Bubble to surpass Romantic Warrior.

A 13th career win on Sunday would also see Romantic Warrior tick past HK$125 million in prize money, with the six-year-old banking an astonishing HK$119,796,084 across his first 17 starts.

Golden Sixty is the world’s highest-ever earner with north of HK$165 million to his name, but it’s not inconceivable that he’ll be usurped by one of his closest rivals.

The best indication of just how much of a superb money spinner Romantic Warrior has been for owner Peter Lau Pak-fai is that he sits almost HK$50 million clear of four-time Group One winner Lucky Sweynesse, who has won three more races and had five extra starts.