It’s been 12 years since a British raider left the Hong Kong International Races with a winner’s trophy, but connections of this year’s seven-strong team are hopeful they can mount a serious challenge in Sunday’s feature races.

Breeders’ Cup winner Starlust leads the squad in the Group One Longines Hong Kong Sprint (1,200m), while Spirit Dancer, who carries the colours of legendary former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson, and The Foxes take on Romantic Warrior in the Group One Hong Kong Cup (2,000m).

In the Group One Hong Kong Mile, Docklands and Ramadan look to put their name on the honour roll and Giavellotto and Dubai Honour contest the Group One Hong Kong Vase (2,400m).

Starlust broke through at the top level in last month’s Group One Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (1,000m) at Del Mar and bids to become the first three-year-old winner of the HK$26 million dash.

While the son of Zoustar is yet to win from four outings over 1,200m this term, trainer Ralph Beckett believes the nature of the Sha Tin track should play to his strengths.

“A flat track around a bend suits him best, so the way it sets up here is ideal,” Beckett said. “He came out of Del Mar in good shape and it made sense to go again.

“He looks great and he’s still holding his coat very well. He’s a horse that looks after himself when it doesn’t go his way and I think that happened a few times during the summer.

“I think there’s a good chance he’ll run well on Sunday, so we’ll see whether that’s good enough.”

The British team will launch a two-pronged attack on Romantic Warrior in the Cup, with recent Group Two Bahrain International Trophy (2,000m) winner, Spirit Dancer, and four-time victor, The Foxes, contesting Hong Kong’s richest race.

Spirit Dancer successfully defended his Bahrain International Trophy crown on November 15 and steps up to the top level for the third time for owners Ferguson, Peter Done and Ged Mason.

“It’s been fantastic really,” trainer Richard Fahey said. “I think his latest win was his best performance and we’re up another gear here in a Group One and we’re happy with him.

“We’ve been very patient with him and to be fair to the owners Sir Alex, Peter Done and Ged [Mason], they’ve just left him to me.

“They’re a great bunch of lads and they get a right kick out of this horse. These are extremely successful businessmen and it’s amazing what horses can do for even some of the most successful people. They’re really enjoying the journey.”

Spirit Dancer is joined by the Andrew Balding-trained The Foxes, who registered a three-length win over Dubai Honour at Newcastle on the all-weather last time out.

Balding and his wife Anna Lisa enjoyed their first success at HKIR with Phoenix Reach in the Vase in 2004 and hope to repeat that feat with their four-year-old son of Churchill.

“It’s brilliant to be back and it’s great to be competing,” Anna Lisa said. “He’s a very good-looking horse by Churchill and we’ve always liked him.

“He was impressive in the [Group Two] Dante Stakes and actually he probably should have won the [Group One] Belmont Derby when he finished second.

“I suppose you could say he’s been a bit disappointing, but he’s actually a very good horse on his day and hopefully he’ll show us on Sunday.”

The Harry Eustace-trained Docklands joins Ramadan in the Mile, while three-time Group Two winner Giavellotto completes the squad in the Vase.