Conqueror was responsible for a terrific effort when resuming from a spell, and with the benefit of that outing, he will only need better luck in running to claim the final leg of tomorrow afternoon's Triple Trio at Sha Tin.
The Alex Wong Yu-on-trained seven-year-old settled back in the field with some cover but was shunted four-wide on a limb from the 700m.
He came very wide on the home turn but closed off bravely to be beaten only a length and a half by All Time High, who had controlled the race from the front.
The performance indicated the gelding had returned from the summer break in terrific order, and with an eight-pound swing at the weights over All Time High, he should be able to turn the tables under Vincent Sit Shing-kin.
All Time High was a transformed horse with blinkers added for the first time, and despite the rise in weight, will still be the testing material, while the other main contenders are last-start winner Sunny Smiles, Royal Pumpkin and Supreme Commander.
In the opening leg, Matsukaze should bounce straight to the lead under Jacky Tong Chi-kit, and in a race lacking depth, be able to run his rivals ragged.