Top trainer Tony Cruz just about owned the Group Three Sa Sa Ladies' Purse a decade ago, but in Willie Cazals and Helene Super Star he could be saddling up the right ammunition on Sunday to break a more recent drought in it and with horses ready to go onto bigger things.

Cruz won the Ladies' Purse with Russian Pearl (2004), Willie Detroy (2005) and Hello Pretty (2006).

Each one had been advertising himself as a potential star before their careers went in very different directions. Russian Pearl was making his Hong Kong debut and smashed the 1,800m course record in the race to become a nominal Derby favourite. Injury interrupted his preparation afterwards and he had to settle for second to Vengeance Of Rain in the classic, but he did win a Stewards' Cup later.

Willie Detroy also won his first local start in the Ladies' Purse to also become a Derby favourite, but injury had more of an impact on his future and he raced only a few more times before his retirement.

Hello Pretty was a stable transfer and beat Good Ba Ba in this race then proved it no fluke by downing Viva Pataca in what is now the Jockey Club Cup, before he was on the wrong end of a roughhouse Hong Kong Cup on international day .

Willie Cazals is owned by Eugene Chuang Yue-chien, like Willie Detroy, and is already Group One placed and on the trail back to that level, hopefully in the Longines Hong Kong Vase.

He missed quite a bit of last season with injury, but Cruz is delighted with his progress and just as sure that Helene Super Star has that kind of scope, too.

"Helene Super Star won the UAE Derby so he has some class and last season he had mucus problems all the time," Cruz said.

"He seems to have grown out of that and I expect he should be in the top bracket this season. He's definitely a Group horse and he could even win a Group One."

Cruz admits the 1,800m trip might be a touch on the short side for both on Sunday, but is expecting good performances.

"We know Willie Cazals wants more ground, but his run over a mile at Happy Valley was very good first-up and he came out of it well. He gets a bit further and he will be much better suited at Sha Tin, with the big, long straight," he said.

"Even though Helene Super Star won this distance last season, he'll probably be even better at 2,000m, but he has a very light weight. They are both very well and I'm pleased with them."