Wonderful Fighter gets a golden opportunity to continue the progress made late last season when he returns with a nice draw in a winnable Class Four at Happy Valley tomorrow night.
It took Ricky Yiu Poon-fai's sprinter nine starts to break through last term as a three-year-old as he grew physically and eventually found his way, but he looks primed for a first-up strike as a four-year-old and can act as banker in the opening leg of the Triple Trio.
The Class Four 1,200m has been divided into two parts and while Wonderful Fighter's race does look like it has more depth than the other section, neither contest looks particularly strong and the draw is what brings Yiu's charge right into reckoning.
Barrier three will allow jockey Neil Callan a relatively simple task on the A course, employing his horse's natural speed to maintain a handy spot and assessing the pace of the race from there - perhaps even controlling from in front.
The form around Wonderful Fighter's victory in late June stacked up in the weeks afterwards, with runner-up Happy Meteor and third-placed Pearl Win both winning before the 2014-15 season was out.
Wonderful Fighter's slow start to his career, including two unplaced runs in griffin races, meant he had dropped in the ratings and now finds himself on 50, still below the rating given to an unraced horse upon arrival in Hong Kong.
Any progression at all will see the son of Exceed And Excel competitive here and there was enough in Wonderful Fighter's solitary trial to suggest that he is ready to fire.
The biggest threat to Wonderful Fighter is Happy Champion (Gerald Mosse), who is third-up after two eye-catching displays over the course and distance. If Mosse can get Manfred Man Ka-leung's veteran a touch closer, and stay on the track, he is a massive show.
John Size-trained Chin Chun (Nash Rawiller) will be in the market after drawing barrier two and he will be better second-up, but his last start effort from a similar draw indicated he might be around his mark.
Joao Moreira rode Wonderful Fighter to his last start victory but he switches with Callan and climbs on Baltic Warrior, who jumps from a tougher gate but can be given another chance.
Sir John was in desperate need of a draw and didn't get one. He can go in, but Brett Prebble has a dilemma at the start - he may spring out and make a play for the front.
In the next leg, the other section of the Class Four 1,200m, take Moreira's mount Star Of Wai Bo after three solid runs to start the season.
Star Of Wai Bo has been hunted out from tough draws at each start and not been beaten far, clinging on for second at his last two, including a short-head defeat last start.
Barrier six is a little kinder for Star Of Wai Bo, who drew gates eight, nine and 10 at his last three, and he should be able to find the fence. Include Spitfire (Karis Teetan) and Trendiful (Eddy Lai Wai-ming) ahead of three you will have to take on trust.
Travel Number One (Zac Purton) was terrible last start, but comes up with gate two and almost has to be forgiven.
Patience is wearing thin with Giddy Giddy, who has started single figure odds at eight of his nine career starts and placed just once - he might be the one to leave out.
Mellifluent (Callan), meanwhile, is fast becoming one of the most frustrating horses in town after last start he seemingly threw the toys out of the cot as 3.3 favourite - when he appeared to stop trying after copping a bump at the start. His best is good enough, but bank on him at your own peril.
The final leg is a highly competitive Class Three. It is by far the hardest leg in which to find a banker with four top chances all drawing well and their stables likely to fancy their chances - and the chances don't stop there.
Go with Grace Heart (Purton) chasing back-to-back wins. Joy Luck Win (Douglas Whyte) from a perfect draw should be better after a summer of education, with a senior rider jumping aboard and the application of a crossed nose band after he ran all over the place last time at the Valley.
Romantic Cash (Derek Leung Ka-chun) was never on the track last time from a wide draw and he came up with barrier one, while Both Lucky (Moreira) should again run a solid race.
That still leaves Peace N Prosperity (Mosse) and Happy Meteor (Callan), both of whom drew wider and will likely have to sit off the pace. That might suit, though, and they wouldn't shock with big runs.
