Tony Cruz admits Hong Kong’s limited programme has forced his hand with Derby hopeful Stunning Peach, who races at Happy Valley for the first time on Wednesday night.

A winner on one of his three starts in the city last term, Stunning Peach returned with a luckless fifth over 1,600m at Sha Tin on October 20 and will tackle the tight turns of the city circuit from gate seven in the Class Two Japan Handicap (1,800m).

“It’s his first time at the Valley and the programme is so limited,” Cruz said. “A mile is too short for him so we’ve gone to the 1,800m – there’s nowhere else to go right now.”

Formerly known as Islandsinthestream for Irish trainer Joseph O’Brien, Stunning Peach was twice runner-up at Group One level as a two-year-old and made a promising start to life in Hong Kong.

After he gave a good account of himself to finish second in May on his second start in the city, the son of Wootton Bassett relished a step up to 1,800m to break through at Class Three level off top weight in June.

He failed to trouble the judge on seasonal reappearance over a mile last month but found plenty of traffic en route to a fast-finishing fifth.

While Cruz suggests the programme at Sha Tin doesn’t work for his three-year-old, the trainer is optimistic the galloper’s early speed should stand him in good stead heading to the Valley.

“He didn’t get a clear run last time out but he needs the distance to be at his best,” Cruz said.

“I think the Valley should suit him, otherwise we wouldn’t go. He’s a horse that can handle any going and any track. Plus, he has a bit of early speed to get into a nice position.”

The Class Two finale also features the Caspar Fownes-trained Karma – one of the trainer’s 13 runners on the card – who surged over the top to beat Stunning Peach and record a fifth career win in October.

He heads to Happy Valley for the second time and jumps from barrier six under Vincent Ho Chak-yiu.

“He hasn’t taken the corner [at Happy Valley] well before, but this season he has matured and hopefully he can handle it better and then let down nicely,” Ho said.

“He suits 1,800m no problem and he’s been jumping so well. Last time we had a bad draw and the track was not ideal.

“On Wednesday, we have a fair track and he should do well. We don’t really know this horse’s true rating just yet.”