It’s fair to say Pierre Ng Pang-chi’s heart would have sank when he saw entries for Sunday’s season finale at Sha Tin.

Clinging to a 67-66 lead in the trainers’ championship, the 40-year-old has nine runners on the 11-race card as he bids to end a memorable second season on a high.

But looming large is his former boss Francis Lui Kin-wai, who takes an incredibly strong team to the final meeting of the season.

With Call Me Glorious chasing a hat-trick, Packing Hermod fresh from a superb debut victory and Chancheng Glory, Patch Of Theta and Steps Ahead boasting strong claims, Lui will be fancied to soar past Ng to claim the title.

Ng still won’t go down without a fight, with the handler rating Fighting Machine his top winning hope on the twilight card.

After a luckless fifth to Mighty Strength at Sha Tin last start, the four-year-old pursues a second career triumph in the second section of the Class Four Medic Kingdom Handicap (1,400m).

“I think Fighting Machine is our best chance,” Ng said.

“He ran brilliant last time and just got a bit unlucky in the straight. He finished off well, so hopefully he can get a bit more luck this time.”

Ng will rely on some Zac Purton magic to help Fighting Machine overcome a wide draw in barrier 10.

He has two of the seven starters in the Class Two Joy And Fun Handicap (1,200m), with the evergreen Duke Wai and promising four-year-old Beauty Waves taking on Lui’s dominant last-start winner, Call Me Glorious.

Duke Wai produced his best run in several months when running a head second to Lui’s in-form Copartner Prance at the course and distance last time out.

A two-time winner and dual placegetter over 1,000m since joining Ng’s stable, Beauty Waves will attempt to convert his good Happy Valley form to Sha Tin while rising in class and distance.

“Duke Wai ran tremendous last time and he was a bit unlucky against a better runner, and for Beauty Waves it’s his first time in Class Two,” Ng said.

“Obviously he’s been placing in Class Three, but he needs to show a bit more improvement to jump up. I don’t think Sha Tin will be a problem because he’s run well there. Hopefully he can switch off a little bit and run on well.”

Hugh Bowman will ride Duke Wai for the first time, while Alexis Badel hops aboard Beauty Waves.

Bits Superstar shapes as an intriguing stable debutant for Ng in the Class Three Pingwu Spark Handicap (1,200m), but the former Australian bumps into another of Lui’s top chances in Packing Hermod.

A winner at Moe from four pre-import starts when known as Capitalisation, Bits Superstar has impressive Hong Kong trial form including a recent victory and third behind subsequent winners, Full Credit and King Miles.

“He’s trialled well. His trial last week was brilliant and the previous one he was just getting there,” Ng said.

“It looks like he has got some potential and hopefully he can show something in his first run. On debut I’m looking for, to be honest, top five or so and prize money. I’ll be happy with that. We are running against Packing Hermod and he’s a super horse.”

Karis Teetan will ride Bits Superstar, who was dealt a horror draw in barrier 14.

Ng also rued I Can’s wide draw in 13 in the Class Three Sight Winner Handicap (1,600m). The son of Iffraaj has recorded a win and two seconds from his most recent four starts, all at Happy Valley.

“He’s very consistent and he’s been a bit unlucky with the draw. Now at Sha Tin I don’t think will be a problem for him and we can try and get the bonus for the owners,” Ng said.

First Love, who ran an encouraging fifth on debut, Medic Elite, Prestige Always and Roman Crown are Ng’s other hopes.