Cody Mo Wai-kit let out a huge sigh of relief as he left the weighing room after the sixth race at Sha Tin on Saturday.

Not only had Magic Control held on for a first win at Class Two level under Matthew Chadwick, but his four-year-old had seen off one of most hyped sprinters in Hong Kong in the process.

Much of the talk before Saturday’s Class Two Panasonic Japan Made System Kitchen Handicap (1,000m) surrounded the John Size-trained Wunderbar, but that didn’t faze Chadwick, who drove his willing partner to the line to deny the $1.40 favourite by a shorthead.

Magic Control hit the front at halfway with Wunderbar and Zac Purton breathing down his neck. Sent for home 300m out, he did just enough in the final furlong to keep the fast-finishing chestnut at bay.

“I was a little bit relieved that he held on,” Mo said.

“In his first run for my stable he ran a very good time and in the Group Three he also ran a fast time, so I could see he had a lot of ability.

“The only concern for me in the race was Wunderbar, but he did a good job.”

Magic Control collected three wins from six starts under the name of Archo Nacho in Australia, headlined by his victory in the Group Three Red Anchor Stakes (1,200m) at Moonee Valley in October last year.

While the gelding disappointed on his Hong Kong debut for trainer Jamie Richards last term, he bounced back with a slick win for Mo over the Sha Tin straight in September.

He enhanced his credentials as an exciting sprinter on his next start, with a promising runner-up effort behind Beauty Waves in the Group Three National Day Cup (1,000m).

“I think the 1,000m is better for him at the moment, but the next race I will probably try 1,200m in December – not the Hong Kong Sprint though,” Mo said, suggesting he will give his speedster some time before competing at the top level.

While Magic Control started $4 and second favourite in the betting, Chadwick said he was always confident his mount could defeat Size’s hotpot, who was searching for a fifth consecutive win on his return to the minimum trip.

“It was a nice win, he did what we expected him to do,” Chadwick said.

“He still gets himself a bit hot – he just keep sweating – but he had a nice smooth run, which is what we wanted.

“We tried to catch a bit of a break off the second horse [Wunderbar] and it panned out nicely.”

Magic Control’s victory secured a double for Mo after Patch Of Time saluted in the Class Four Panasonic Mini Led TV Handicap (1,200m).

The son of Written Tycoon chased the speed in third and stayed on well under Karis Teetan to record back-to-back wins over the Sha Tin 1,200m.

“It’s nice to get a double,” Mo said after moving to nine victories for the campaign.

“He’s improved a lot now he’s learned how to settle. It was a good effort.”