Karis Teetan has unwavering faith in dirt specialist Adefill overcoming a deep Class Two field and wide draw in Sunday’s Nam Long Shan Handicap (1,650m) at Sha Tin.

A six-time winner on Sha Tin’s all-weather surface, the Ricky Yiu Poon-fai-trained Adefill will bid to replicate his course-and-distance triumph in the same grade in May.

However, the son of Deep Field faces a stern test in the strongest race on Sunday’s card, which features a mix of fellow dirt specialists and first starters on the surface.

Moments In Time, Sword Point, The Best Peach, Chill Chibi, Ka Ying Generation and Red Hare King will make their debuts on the dirt, while the likes of All For St Paul’s, Berlin Tango, Capital Delight and Apache Pass will join Adefill in aiming to add to their success on the all-weather track.

“There’s a couple of horses, like Chill Chibi, that come into the race but I have confidence that this horse on the dirt, he’s a different horse – he just gets so comfortable on it, especially if the speed is on,” Teetan said of Adefill.

“He’s a horse that loves the surface and there are not always races for him, so it’s nice to get him back to the races. From his trials, he’s doing everything right at the moment. It’s a nice little competitive field and I look forward to riding him.”

Teetan is also optimistic barrier 10 won’t pose a serious problem for Adefill in his first run this season.

“Being drawn outside is even better because he wants to be left alone and he’ll get on their backs coming through. This is when he gives his best,” Teetan said.

Apache Pass will be David Eustace’s first dirt runner in Hong Kong and third overall in the city.

The highly rated handler almost tasted success with his first runners at Sha Tin on Tuesday, with Jumbo Fortune storming home to run a close second to View Of The World.

A three-time winner on the all-weather surface, Apache Pass is chasing his first victory since May 2022.

“This was the obvious race for him,” Eustace said. “He’s right down in the weights and he likes the dirt.

“I hoped the race would come up a little bit weaker than it has, but at least he has got dirt form. He’s drawn a gate [five], so we’ll be positive from there. He hasn’t done a lot wrong.”

Eustace was thrilled with Jumbo Fortune’s run and expects the six-year-old to break through in the near future.

“He ran great. He probably went well enough to win, but didn’t get quite enough luck, albeit the winner was impressive and well on top on the line,” Eustace said.

“I thought he was going very well going into it. With a bit of even luck at some stage, I’m sure he’ll get his head in front.”