Derek Leung Ka-chun isn’t letting a frustrating streak of placings get him down as he chases a change of fortune at Sha Tin on Wednesday night.

The 36-year-old has had multiple near-misses to start the season, racking up 12 seconds and seven thirds to go with his three wins from 66 rides.

Championship leader Zac Purton is the only jockey to have ridden more seconds than Leung with 17, while Leung’s 19 placings is the second most along with Hugh Bowman and Karis Teetan.

“I’ve had many seconds, but I’ll just keep my head down, keep fighting and working hard,” Leung said.

With five rides on Wednesday night’s all-weather programme at Sha Tin, including prominent chances Golden Long and Hakka Radiance, Leung gets a solid opportunity to add to his solitary dirt win this term on Frankie Lor Fu-chuen’s Sword Point.

Golden Long returns in the Class Four Tiu Yue Yung Handicap (1,200m) after an encouraging debut campaign for Lor.

The Brazen Beau four-year-old made a perfect start to his career, bolting in by two lengths on debut over 1,200m at Happy Valley last December.

He followed that up by finishing in the top five at his next five starts, including a close second under Leung at the course and distance of his debut triumph.

After running fourth at the Valley in April, Golden Long was found to have bled from both nostrils for the first time and also pulled up lame the next day.

He has warmed up for his return with two Conghua trials, finishing a close third to boom sprinter Wunderbar and second to Across Da Universe in his latest hit-out.

“He seems like he has improved a little bit from last season. He just had a small break, so we gave him two trials and it seems like every trial, he’s slowly getting better and better,” Leung said.

“We think he’s ready to race, so we’ll give him a shot.”

Golden Long will carry top weight of 135 pounds and jump from barrier nine in his first race start on the dirt surface.

“It’s his first time racing on the all-weather, but last season he trialled a couple of times on the all-weather and he seems like he had so much early speed and quite enjoyed it, so I think it’s good for him to try it,” Leung said.

“He’s got some ability, but he always gets nervous or a bit too keen. Even in the gates he always gets a bit nervous, but first up hopefully he’s not as keen as before, I’ll just let him go smoothly and hopefully he can run well.”

Golden Long takes on an even field featuring last-start winner Jolly Companion and consistent dirt performers, Regent Glory and Aca Power.

Hakka Radiance looks to have strong claims in the second section of the Class Four Tin Ha Shan Handicap (1,650m) after a close second behind Forever Folks on the dirt last start.

The Danny Shum Chap-shing-trained gelding was held up for clear running around the home turn on the back of the leader. He stayed on strongly once getting into the clear, only to be chased down by Forever Folks late when beaten three quarters of a length.

Excellent Daddy, On The Lash and Majestic Colour are Leung’s other rides on the eight-race programme at Sha Tin.

Meanwhile, Karis Teetan’s Cox Plate (2,040m) mount Evaporate is a confirmed runner in the Australian Group One feature on Saturday after galloping well at Moonee Valley on Tuesday morning.

The Ben, Will and JD Hayes-trained three-year-old has drawn barrier six in the field of nine. Japan’s Prognosis, the early favourite for the race, drew gate five.