Caspar Fownes has been dealt mixed luck with barrier draws for his two prime contenders at Happy Valley on Wednesday night as he bids to continue his march towards a career milestone.

Known as the King of the Valley, Fownes is just six wins shy of reaching 1100 in Hong Kong with more than half of his career victories recorded at the city circuit.

M Unicorn and Sugar Sugar spearhead the handler’s team of seven runners on Wednesday night, with both gallopers chasing back-to-back wins at Happy Valley.

The in-form M Unicorn drew solidly in barrier five in the Class Three Tsing Yi Handicap (1,650m), but Sugar Sugar’s claims were dealt a blow when he drew the outside in the field of 10 in the second section of the Class Three Kwai Chung Handicap (1,200m).

While Sugar Sugar overcame barrier eight to score a fast-finishing triumph last start for Alfred Chan Ka-hei, Fownes was hoping for a kinder draw to boost his chances on Wednesday night.

“He did it nicely on his last start,” Fownes said. “He presents in good form and he’s always very honest, so hopefully he’ll be competitive.

“Alfie has done a good job with him and they got on well, so I hope he can snag another win for the team on Wednesday.”

Sugar Sugar and M Unicorn have each registered four career wins, all at the track and distance of their respective races on Wednesday night.

Fownes has booked Hugh Bowman to ride M Unicorn for the first time when the Savabeel gelding chases a fifth victory this season.

He last raced when finishing powerfully to beat Quantum Patch and California Voce, a subsequent Sha Tin winner, on January 17 for Vincent Ho Chak-yiu, who is sidelined through injury.

“He’s been very consistent and he’s been very honest all season, so we’re just hopeful that he can continue that upwards trend and give us another good effort,” Fownes said of M Unicorn.

“He makes his own luck. He can get back and work for home or he can be a little bit handier. If you can draw a good gate, you can position up a bit more handy and if you draw bad, you can go back and hit the line. He’s versatile.”

Fownes will also start June Planet in the Tsing Yi Handicap, with Karis Teetan booked to ride the two-time Happy Valley winner.

Bowman guided June Planet to back-to-back wins earlier this season and he had excuses at Sha Tin last start, copping a severe check early in the race by the riderless Sugar Ball.

Loyal Ambition, Royal Pride, Lucky Quality and Jumbo Legend are Fownes’ other runners on Wednesday night.

Meanwhile, Keith Yeung Ming-lun has been cleared to resume riding on Wednesday night after overcoming a bout of the flu.

Yeung was indisposed and stood down during last Wednesday night’s meeting and was unable to fulfil his riding engagements at Sha Tin on Sunday.