Alexis Badel hopes Chiu Chow Spirit has what it takes to join the illustrious roll of honour of five-year-olds to have conquered Sunday’s Group Three Celebration Cup (1,400m) at Sha Tin.

The past five horses to win this weekend’s feature at the age of five all went on to become Group One winners, and while Badel isn’t setting his sights quite that high for Chiu Chow Spirit, the Frenchman believes the gelding is yet to find his ceiling.

“He put in a great effort on the first day, he won the Class Two brilliantly so I’m hoping he can carry on,” Badel said. “The horse is improving and he has got quality, so I think he deserved [that win].”

Golden Sixty (2020), Beauty Generation (2017), Contentment (2015), Gold-Fun (2014) and Ambitious Dragon (2011) collected the Celebration Cup en route to top-level wins later in their careers.

The Manfred Man Ka-leung-trained galloper will attempt to notch a breakthrough win in Group company at the first time of asking after taking out the Class Two Tai Mo Shan Handicap (1,400m) in striking fashion on the opening day of the season.

Settled in midfield in the eight-runner contest, Chiu Chow Spirit made smooth headway 300m from home and kept on well to win by a cosy length and a quarter. He was handed a seven-point rise for that victory and will carry 117 pounds on Sunday.

“He seems very fit,” Badel said. “I’m looking forward to riding him and he’s not carrying too much weight, which I see as a good advantage.”

Badel will bid to claim consecutive wins in the Celebration Cup after he made all aboard the reopposing Healthy Happy 12 months ago.

While he will have to negotiate the widest gate of all in the seven-runner field, the 34-year-old hopes to settle his mount in a reasonable position before unleashing his potent turn of foot.

“I guess it all depends on the pace in the race but he’s a finisher – he’s got a good turn of foot. Hopefully I can put him in the right spot and he can run well,” Badel said of Chiu Chow Spirit.