Lotzatow looks set to continue his remarkable rise up the ratings and can establish himself as a genuine contender for this year's Hong Kong Derby when he steps out in today's Yuen Long Handicap over 1,800 metres at Sha Tin. The Manfred Man Ka-leung-trained gelding is following a similar campaign to the one Derek Cruz negotiated with Green Treasure last year and victory this time around would almost assure him a place in the Group One feature in March. Green Treasure made a quick rise through his classes early last season and captured this event last year before going on to run a gallant fifth to Vengeance Of Rain in the Hong Kong Derby. Similarly, Lotzatow started this season off a rating of 68 but has quickly established himself as a horse of some quality, winning three races so far this term and being luckless at his only other two appearances. His first attempt at 1,800m was two starts back on November 5 and after settling well back in the field, the Towkay gelding switched to the outside and quickly gathered in his opposition to win in impressive fashion. He was stretched to the Derby distance of 2,000m for the first time last attempt and after racing too keenly early, he still managed to finish off impressively to run third to Dr Well, with a slow tempo in the early and middle stages proving his downfall. Olivier Doleuze takes the mount on Lotzatow and the Frechman has built up some impressive statistics this season when teamed up with Man, winning seven of his 33 rides for the stable at a strike rate over 21 per cent. The event should be run at a decent tempo with Lucky Sixer set to vie for the front position, while Courageousheart and Very Fit are likely to be pressing forward from wide barriers. Lotzatow should be able to settle around midfield, which will allow him to be close enough turning for home and unleash his powerful finishing burst. The John Moore-trained Rice Field shapes as the toughest to beat and he will also join the growing list of horses eyeing a Derby start. He should, however, be able to continue on his winning way. The Imperial Ballet gelding has taken time to find his feet in Hong Kong but has returned from the summer break a much-improved horse. After a luckless first-up performance, the four-year-old showed he was set to break his Hong Kong maiden status when running home strongly behind Clean Sweep over 1,600m on November 13. Four weeks later over the same distance, Rice Field turned in a very impressive display in winning, racing three wide for the entire trip before unleashing a withering finishing burst to score comprehensively from Booming City. He will find this a slightly tougher assignment but looks set to appreciate the rise in distance and prove he has the makings of a promising stayer. Stablemate Courageousheart doesn't have the class of Rice Field but what he lacks in the qualtity department he makes up with toughness. The four-year-old rises to Class Two for the first time but given the circumstances of the event, he may just measure up. He scored a smart last-start victory over the promising Bold Win when appreciating getting to the outside fence in the straight and with the rail being in the C+3 position, or 11 metres out from the true placement, jockey Brett Prebble is more than likely to head in the same direction once turning for home. The John Size-trained pair of Fashion Jewellery and Clean Sweep are sure to provide stout competition. Fashion Jewellery (Chris Munce) has been luckless this time in but will appreciate a rise in distance from an inside gate. Clean Sweep (Douglas Whyte), who is already a four-time winner this season, is worth another chance back in distance with the blinkers being re-applied.