Millions of dollars worth of 2016 Hong Kong Derby hopefuls were put on show in yesterday's turf trials at Sha Tin and it was Benno Yung Tin-pang's Australian import Friends Of Ka Ying that impressed most.
With some high-profile imports making their first appearances at the trials, Yung's 89-rated galloper showed he should be right amongst it when the four-year-old series begins next month with the Hong Kong Classic Mile.
WATCH: Friends Of Ka Ying wins a trial packed with Derby hopefuls
Formerly known as Almalad and trained in Australia by Gai Waterhouse, Friends of Ka Ying strikes a similar sort of profile to Yung's 2015 Derby placegetter Romantic Touch, a recent winner now with Tony Cruz.
Both horses won the Group One J J Atkins over a mile in Brisbane as two-year-olds, although Friends Of Ka Ying went on to add the Group Two Stutt Stakes as a three-year-old.
Friends Of Ka Ying has now trialled three times, with Zac Purton aboard each time, and yesterday he jumped cleanly and sat just off the speed before working to the line well.
With a rumoured price tag approaching HK$20 million and carrying the colours of Pan Sutong for trainer John Moore, Consort (Joao Moreira) will attract plenty of attention wherever he goes.
The untapped colt, fitted with a crossed noseband and hood, wasn't really allowed to stride out in the 1,000m trial but looked full of running behind the leading group, travelling strongly without overracing to finish fifth. Moore indicated Consort will be entered in a 1,400m Class Two on December 27.
Another of Moore's Derby-eligible acquisitions, 85-rated White Magic (Nash Rawiller), was felt for in his first trial but the horse formerly named Bartel should have come on for the workout.
Richard Gibson's import Peacock (Douglas Whyte), formerly owned by Queen Elizabeth and coming off a second to Time Test in the Tercentenary Stakes, was fresh and got on the bit during the middle stages before finishing off just fairly.
Moore's former New Zealand-trained stayer Werther (Moreira) could be ready for a bold showing in what looks like being a competitive Class Two mile on international day, provided he gets a run.
Werther, who was second in the Group One Queensland Derby to Magicool, has caught the eye at his only two trials.
