In-form galloper Yellowfin can hand Francis Lui Kin-wai the outright lead in the trainers’ championship when he tackles the Class Two Chun Shek Handicap (1,650m) at Sha Tin on Wednesday night.

Chasing his first title, 65-year-old Lui’s strong second half of the season continued when he drew level with Pierre Ng Pang-chi with a double at Sha Tin on Sunday.

Ng has remarkably led the race for the premiership since November 5, maintaining a double-figure buffer over his rivals for most of his time at the top.

But the second-season handler’s quiet two months and Lui’s surge has seen the former’s lead wiped, with both men sitting on 59 wins heading into Wednesday night’s dirt meeting.

Lui might not take long to snatch the lead, with Yellowfin a strong chance against only four rivals in the opening race.

The Territories five-year-old has notched wins on each of Hong Kong’s three tracks this season, including a strong all-the-way victory in the Class Three Deauville Handicap (1,650m) at Happy Valley last start.

“He’s good,” Lui said. “There aren’t many horses in the race. Of course he goes up to Class Two now, but he’s in good form and he should run well.”

Yellowfin’s form received a boost when the horse he beat last start, Romantic Laos, won his following start at the Valley last Wednesday night.

Recording his first triumph on Sha Tin’s all-weather surface, Yellowfin led all the way to bolt in by three and a quarter lengths in the Class Three Humphreys Handicap (1,650m) in December.

He has since run a pair of thirds and fourths on the dirt, with wide draws often thwarting his chances.

Lyle Hewitson will again ride Yellowfin in his clash with Telecom Fighters, Bundle Of Charm, All For St Paul’s and Adefill.

One of Lui’s most intriguing runners on Wednesday night is Call Me Dandy, who returns from a bleeding attack in the Class Three Chung On Handicap (1,200m).

A dual Sha Tin winner on turf, Call Me Dandy almost made a winning debut on the dirt when a neck second to Toronado Phantom last December.

He bled from both nostrils at his following start in January and has had three trials in the lead-up to his return, winning his most recent at Conghua.

“He bled last run. After a break and barrier trials, he has come right. Hopefully he will run a good race,” Lui said.

Call Me Dandy bumps into a strong field featuring Sing Dragon, who bids for a fourth straight victory on the dirt, last-start winner Hong Kong Hall, Victory Moments, Monta Frutta and Beauty Infinity.

Beau Gosse, General Ace, Euro Rocks and Highland Rahy are Lui’s other starters. Ng will be represented by Sunny Darling, Medic Elite, Robot Knight, Starship Eighty, Mr Aladdin, Apache Pass and Aestheticism.