Trainers Tony Millard and Caspar Fownes are managing expectations of first-up results with their respective former horse of the year winners, Ambitious Dragon and Military Attack, when the big guns return in Sunday's Group Two Oriental Watch Sha Tin Trophy.
Ambitious Dragon, given the top honour back-to-back in 2010-11 and 2011-12, and Military Attack, who won the award two seasons ago, will form part of a stellar field which also includes reigning Horse of the Year Designs On Rome, over a mile at handicap conditions.
Millard and his wife Bev have painstakingly rehabilitated Ambitious Dragon after he suffered a tendon injury in trackwork just over a year ago and, with new jockey Gerald Mosse aboard, the trainer says he would be "over the moon with a top-three finish".
"I'd just like to see him run a nice race, to indicate to us that he is on the comeback trail," Millard said.
After nearly six months at Beas River Equestrian Centre, which included slow work along forest trails and dressage - like training in the trotting ring - Ambitious Dragon has had five months of steady build-up on the Sha Tin training tracks and has been topped off by two trials.
"He has shown in his work that he hasn't lost his zest for racing, that's the main thing, and now we just need to see him do that in a race," Millard said of the seven-time Group One winner, who hasn't raced in nearly 18 months, and hasn't won since the 2013 Queen's Silver Jubilee Cup.
The now eight-year-old has been relieved of nine ratings points during his long lay-off, and will be getting four pounds off joint top-weights Military Attack, Designs On Rome and last-start winner Gold-Fun.
"We couldn't have done anything more with him, his preparation has been solid," Millard said. "It's the culmination of a lot of groundwork, now let's see how he copes with a race."
Military Attack came to Fownes in an off-season transfer from John Moore and the work he has done has been as much mental as physical, getting the "quirky" gelding to relax into his new stable life.
"John will tell you himself what he is like," Fownes said of the six-year-old. "He is a character but he seems happy enough now, and his coat is glistening. He will be turned out beautifully on the day.
"As far as his performance goes, I'd just like to see him closing off nicely. He will be ridden on his merits, but over a mile and with a big weight, it would be good to see him relaxed and taking ground off them at the end.
"We are taking on the best milers in town. This horse has been a champion but we have to see where he is in his prep. The way I train him, my target is the Hong Kong Cup in December and he will be spot on for that race. He has had a good preparation coming into this but his fitness level will improve."
Champion jockey Zac Purton, who has won three times on the horse, including the 2013 Singapore Airlines International Cup, will be reunited with Military Attack for the first time since January. "We know he takes a few runs to come to hand and a mile isn't his best distance," the Australian said.
