It is over four years since David Hall last saddled a Group winner in Hong Kong, but the veteran trainer believes he has found “the perfect race” to end that wait at Sha Tin on Sunday.

Hall is double-handed in this weekend’s Group Three Bauhinia Sprint Trophy (1,000m), with his two highest-rated gallopers Invincible Sage and Flying Ace representing the stable, and the 60-year-old handler is confident the former can relish a step up in grade over his favoured course and distance.

“He’s had three [wins] from three [starts] this season and he’s becoming a bit of a straight-track specialist,” Hall said. “He’s got another big step to take now, but it’s the perfect race for him.”

Winless from three post-import appearances last term, Invincible Sage returned for the 2023-24 season with an emphatic first-up triumph in Class Three company on October 22.

It was a similar story in his latest two victories, with the son of Thronum negotiating a troubled passage to quicken up and put a Class Three contest to bed on November 11 before reproducing his customary turn of foot in his Class Two success on December 17.

“Each of his wins has had a different sort of merit in it,” Hall said. “He’s had to overcome an awkward spot, the pace wasn’t as we thought it would be the next time, he’s carried the big weight and then the light weight up in grade.

“He’s kept answering the call. I’m looking forward to seeing how much of a step he can take. He carries the light weight and it’s his favourite track and trip, where his stats look exceptional.”

With regular rider Hugh Bowman, who partnered with Invincible Sage on his first five starts in Hong Kong, unable to reach the depths of the 115 pounds allocated to the speedster, Hall has called upon the assistance of Alexis Badel to negotiate barrier one.

A victory for Hall in the Bauhinia Sprint Trophy would be his first Group-level success since Little Giant claimed the Group Three Sha Tin Vase (1,200m) in May 2019, and the inclusion of five-time winner Flying Ace will undoubtedly bolster the conditioner’s chances of Sunday silverware.

“[Flying Ace] is another who has had winning performances without winning, so he does deserve a win,” Hall said. “It’s a bit of a different game for him over the straight 1,000m, as opposed to getting out the back in 1,200m races. But that’s probably been because of the barriers he’s been drawing.”

After an unbeaten four-race 2021-22 campaign with Matthew Poon Ming-fai in the saddle, Flying Ace added only one victory to his tally from six starts last season.

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He has been knocking on the door this term, running into places on all four of his appearances, and he will make his first foray into Group Three company with the reuniting Poon aboard.

“His performances are there for everyone to see. They’ve been quite eye-catching and he also deserves his place in the field,” Hall said of the 96-rated six-year-old.

“It’s going to be an interesting race for him. His form is good, he’s trialled well since and I expect him – with a good speed on down the straight 1,000m – to be very strong late again.”