Lyle Hewitson hailed Full Credit “one of my favourites” after the promising four-year-old helped him snap a 57-ride drought at Sha Tin on Sunday.

Winless since November 24 and not long back from a nasty fall on December 15, Hewitson delivered the goods aboard Full Credit in the Class Three D’Aguilar Peak Handicap (1,200m) on the dirt to move to eight winners for the season.

“It’s been a dry spell – not for a lack of trying, though,” Hewitson said.

“I had a heap of seconds and thirds and a lot of my horses have run really well. Whether they just weren’t good enough to win, or maybe they were and just never had the luck.

“Hopefully this is the turn again and it’s great to do it on one of my favourites. He’s been a fantastic horse to me. The nice thing is that he’s got a bit more versatile as he’s matured.”

After leading throughout to salute three times on turf last season, Full Credit notched his first all-weather win after running second on the surface last start.

“He’s up to Class Two now. When those Class Two dirt races come up we’ll take our chance in them, but they’re few and far between, so he’s going to have to run on the turf,” Hewitson said of Full Credit, who tracked leader Packing Bole in the run before finding the front close to home.

“Whether it’s Happy Valley or Sha Tin, it doesn’t matter. I think what we can try now is riding him the same way but on the turf.

“If there’s so much speed, we don’t have to go and fight for the lead. He clearly enjoys chasing as well, which is great.”

You Absolute ripper

Not seen since the final race meeting of the 2023-24 season, The Absolute made a triumphant return to salute on the final card of 2024.

A winner of his second career start last December, the Jimmy Ting Koon-ho-trained The Absolute struggled to make an impact through the latter part of last season and connections opted to send the four-year-old for throat surgery to correct an airway abnormality.

After two quiet trials, The Absolute was backed from $25 to $18.40 in the final two minutes of betting and he didn’t disappoint his followers.

Taken back from gate nine by jockey Luke Ferraris, The Absolute was still last at the 500m before producing a sustained run down the middle of the track to breeze home by a length and three-quarters.

“His trials were not bad because 1,200m for him is a bit short – he just came from last and easily came by himself,” said Ting.

“I thought the horse had a bit of a chance even though he wasn’t 100 per cent.

“He is a nice horse but before he could not breathe. After the surgery he is much better.”

The Absolute improved his record to two wins from eight starts and will now find himself in Class Three company.

“I think he can win more races and later a longer distance will be better,” added Ting, who jagged his fourth winner of the season.

Ferraris continued his impressive season with win number 18.

Wong finds perfect Companion

Like Hewitson, apprentice Britney Wong Po-ni teamed up with a familiar face to get herself back among the winners, with the 10-pound claimer piloting Jolly Companion to victory to taste success for the first time since November 17.

Wong’s victory in the Class Four Luk Keng Handicap (1,200m) on the dirt was her second aboard Jolly Companion and sixth overall in her maiden Hong Kong season.

“Three rides on him and we’ve already got two wins together, so that’s good,” said Wong after notching her third all-weather success.

“He’s a lovely horse, very straightforward. He always likes to be forward, rolling and leading by himself and that’s a ride that suits me.”

Twelfth last start under Vincent Ho Chak-yiu, trainer Manfred Man Ka-leung credited the rebooking of Wong with Jolly Companion’s all-the-way win.

“The 10-pound allowance helped and it’s good for [Wong],” said Man after banking his 12th triumph of the campaign and first since November 27.

Wong’s winning day was somewhat soured when stewards hit her with a one-meeting careless riding ban for her steer aboard Lucky Blessing in race five.

Cosmo claims rare C5 dash

Class Five races down the Sha Tin straight are anything but common, with Sunday’s Port Shelter Handicap (1,000m) the first of its kind in almost four years.

No less than 1,358 days since Carry The Diamond saluted for Richard Gibson and Zac Purton in April 2021, Cosmo Navigator delivered in strong style for Antoine Hamelin and Michael Chang Chun-wai in Sunday’s opener.

Cosmo Navigator’s maiden victory at start 16 was Chang’s ninth of the season and the veteran handler’s third straight successful Sha Tin meeting.

Hamelin landed his second win in eight days after going over five months without tasting success, with the French jockey following up last weekend’s victory aboard Raging Blizzard with another well-timed steer atop Cosmo Navigator.