'My season has started slowly, but luck has changed,' crowed Leung after Saint-Martin won the Tung Wah Centenary Challenge Cup (1,000m) on Flying Sprinter as only the second jockey ever to have ridden the horse.

With Simon Yim Hin-keung on the lengthy list of suspended riders at present, Saint-Martin deputised with devastating effect, swamping Adaikali (Gerald Mosse) in the final stages when the top weight had looked home and hosed.

Saint-Martin has begun his season well with relatively limited opportunities, but he has been a regular with the Leung stable and a real asset to the trainer.

Certainly Saint-Martin looks to have the key to Choice And Chance, the former barrier rogue, who again began with the field last night but was taken back by design to run his race along the rail.

The other French ace, Mosse, had to bow to Saint-Martin on Adaikali but was successful earlier in the night for Almond Lee Yee-tat with Oh Great.

As usual, Mosse was seen to great effect on a Class Five runner, with his skills directed to the crucial area of getting Oh Great out of the gates.

The gelding drew well in gate three but Mosse's deft hand in getting him to start quickly for a change made sure that the benefits of the draw were felt.

But the night ended badly for Mosse, who was at his first meeting back from a careless-riding suspension. Stewards found exception with his ride on Soprano in the final race and suspended him on a careless riding charge again for two days, with a further $40,000 fine in lieu of a third day's suspension.

Douglas Whyte ensured his 34th birthday on Tuesday didn't pass without a visit to the winner's circle, landing a gem of a ride on the John Size-trained Right Choice, giving Chan Kan-tim, also the owner of Choice And Chance, a back-to-back winning double.

'It didn't look like the horse would get the run of the race when they went past the post the first time,' said Size.

'But it was a lovely ride to angle his way across to the fence and that's been important tonight.'

Paul O'Sullivan's winning start to the season continued with his second victory in two starts with Desert Strike (Michael Rodd) and there may be more to come.

'He's just flying, this horse,' said Rodd, who was suitably impressed by his first ride on the gelding. 'I know he only just got there on the line but he felt like there was more to give and it wouldn't be a surprise if he won again.'

Seasons Knack had good credentials to bowl over the Whyte-Size favourite Kowloon Fit in the Kwong Wah Handicap (2,200m) and he was just too seasoned for the young favourite in the final stages.

The only horse to have beaten Super Combed over the course and distance of the race, Francis Lui Kin-wai-trained Seasons Knack has been a horse crying out for the longer distance, said winning rider Robbie Fradd.

'It's a shame there aren't more of these 2,200m races and further. There are horses around like this one who are looking for a bit of distance,' he said. 'Seasons Knack has raced well every run for Francis this season but he needed this trip. Francis took the pacifiers off tonight and the horse travelled better through the run tonight.'