Overcoming wide barriers is nothing new for Lord Kanaloa and Japan's champion sprinter can cap his magnificent career with a repeat win in the Sprint.
While trainers and jockeys were stressing a need for an inside alley in the HK$15 million race, trainer Takayuki Yasuda was hoping to be drawn wide - such is his confidence in one of the most remarkable horses in recent memory.
Yasuda got his wish and drew 12, the trainer content for jockey Yasunari Iwata to sit wide and negate the possibility of being blocked for a run.
In his last six wins, all at Group One level, Lord Kanaloa has overcome gates 10, 10, 11, 6 and 16 - his sheer power and class prevailing each time. The win from gate six was his only overseas start at Sha Tin, where he did receive a crucial bit of cover through most of the turn.
The need for cover at Sha Tin is probably more prevalent than in the wide-open run-and-gun style of Japan, where jockeys tend to stay in their lanes. But if anything like the Lord Kanaloa of 12 months ago turns up today, then even sitting three-deep with no cover throughout might not stop him.
It seems no one expects Lord Kanaloa to find a two-wide spot - rival jockeys certainly won't be helping the short-priced favourite - and what looks like a strong speed is also a slight concern for him.
Tye Angland on Go Baby Go seems to have no choice but to burn forward early from gate 13, and Jwala will probably follow across.
In gates eight and nine, 1,000m specialists Eagle Regiment (Olivier Doleuze) and Sole Power (John Murtagh) have the speed to contest the front, but being suspect over the trip they are more likely to take a hold.
From a low draw, Cerise Cherry can end up box-seating and is a chance of repeating a cheeky placing in the race. Some may mark his stablemate Joy And Fun (Brett Doyle) down for being 10 and first-up since March, but from gate one he looks like getting a lovely run.
Also favoured by the draw are the John Moore-trained pair Sterling City and Frederick Engels - from gate two and four they look like getting perfect seats in the two-wide line, especially if the speed is as predicted.
Since winning the 2012 Hong Kong Sprint by 21/2 lengths, Lord Kanaloa has won four of five, a second in the Group Two Centaur Stakes his only blemish, and there's no indication the five-year-old stallion's star is on the wane. Nor has travel seemed to dull his enthusiasm for racing, judging by the astonishing trackwork produced during the week.
At his best Lucky Nine (Brett Prebble) - the 2011 Hong Kong Sprint winner - is a clear second pick and has been unlucky in his two clashes with Lord Kanaloa. This time he draws five, which reads well, and his work was very good this week.
But one has to forget a terrible run a month ago in Melbourne and an unsuitable preparation coming through quarantine to have Lucky Nine in the finish.
