The Almond Lee Yee-tat stable has begun the season firing on all cylinders and his position at the top of the premiership table should remain in place through the deeds of the promising South Breeze in the middle pin of Sunday's Triple Trio at Sha Tin.
The Jockey Club has boosted the opening pool of the TT to HK$15 million, which is expected to result in the main prize swelling to HK$30 million, and there is no need to look any further than South Breeze when searching for a reliable banker.
Lee leads the trainers' ladder with 10 winners, two ahead of John Size and Me Tsui Yu-sak, and on the way South Breeze performed first-up, the winning momentum will continue.
The Howbaddouwantit gelding took time to knock in his first win but he quickly established himself as a horse on the rise by scoring in his final two appearances of last season.
He returned on October 1 and turned in an excellent effort to finish a ?-length fourth to Dashing Thunder after settling back, covering ground and being unsuited by a moderate tempo.
The five-year-old will be greatly improved by that outing, should relish a rise to 2,000 metres for the first time and be given every opportunity to return to his best after coming up with gate two for Gerald Mosse.
His main danger will come from the lightly-weighted Courageous- heart, who was unlucky not to finish closer last start after being held up in the straight, while others to keep safe are Eye Witness, Nasa Pearl, Man In The Mirror and Seasons Knack.