A bullish Francis Lui Kin-wai has declared his Sha Tin team the strongest he has assembled this season as he bids to capture a dramatic trainers’ championship win on Sunday.

Trailing title leader Pierre Ng Pang-chi by one win heading into the season finale, Lui has loaded up with an ominous squad of 10 runners headlined by phenomenal last-start winner Call Me Glorious, Chancheng Glory, impressive debut victor Packing Hermod and Patch Of Theta.

The 65-year-old looks well placed to claim his first championship and go one better than last year when he was runner-up to John Size.

“It’s the strongest team I’ve had [this season],” said Lui, whose best result at a meeting this campaign was a treble – which he achieved six times.

“I think Call Me Glorious is the best chance.”

Call Me Glorious bids for a third straight victory in the Class Two Joy And Fun Handicap (1,200m) on the back of two stunning performances under Zac Purton.

The three-year-old made all to score by almost nine lengths combined. His latest triumph by a massive six and a half lengths in pouring rain was the biggest winning margin this season.

“He keeps improving,” Lui said.

“I’m not sure whether he liked the ground last time, maybe he handled it and the rest couldn’t. He’s an up-and-coming horse. He still doesn’t know how to properly run and doesn’t know racing just yet. He just runs to give his best effort from the start.”

In his first test at Class Two level, Call Me Glorious drops 11 pounds to carry 119 and jumps from gate five in the small field of seven.

Chancheng Glory shapes as another strong contender in the feature of the day, the Class One Hong Kong Racehorse Owners Association Trophy (1,600m) with Purton on board for the first time.

The son of Mor Spirit has racked up five course and distance wins this term and was narrowly beaten by rising star Galaxy Patch when second in the Group Three Lion Rock Trophy (1,600m) last month.

“He’s OK and I think Class One is good for him – he’s not a Group horse yet,” Lui said.

“I think he could be [the one to beat].”

Chancheng Glory has drawn ideally in barrier two for his clash with Moments In Time, Sword Point, Money Catcher, Telecom Fighters, The Golden Scenery, Atullibigeal, All For St Paul’s, C P Brave and The Best Peach.

Packing Hermod makes his Sha Tin debut in the Class Three Pingwu Spark Handicap (1,200m) after creating an instant impression at Happy Valley, scoring by two and a half lengths over 1,200m.

The Rubick three-year-old immediately rises to Class Three and has to overcome barrier eight.

“He’s also a good horse, but he’s only had one run and he’s a three-year-old who’s up in class,” Lui said.

“I think next season he’ll be a good horse. They’ve all gone up in the ratings recently so it might be hard for them. It all depends on the situations and importantly a bit of luck.”

Patch Of Theta also carries top form into the final race of the season, the Class Three All You Wish Handicap (1,400m). He has won three of his past five starts and finished in the top three at all nine career runs.

Packing Treadmill, Forever Glorious, Packing Angel, Happy Park, Steps Ahead and Holy Lake are Lui’s other starters at Sha Tin.

Ng will be represented by Duke Wai, Beauty Waves, Medic Elite, First Love, Fighting Machine, Bits Superstar, I Can, Prestige Always and Roman Crown.

Meanwhile, stewards adjourned an inquiry until Sunday into Purton’s ride on Nebraskan after he ran fourth in the Class Four Star Shine Handicap (1,200m) at Happy Valley on Wednesday night.

Stewards opened the inquiry “with particular emphasis placed on the vigour [Purton] applied on the horse in the home straight”.

Purton told stewards he did not apply full vigour to Nebraskan from the 150m to the 50m because he was concerned the gelding would shift ground after making contact with Prince Of Porty and Lean Master.