Regency Legend went within a couple of lengths of pinching a Group One in his first run in over a year and now Danny Shum Chap-shing will plot a more traditional path towards another crack at the top level with the talented five-year-old.

After not being seen at the races at all in 2020, Regency Legend finished runner-up to Hot King Prawn in January’s Group One Centenary Sprint Cup (1,200m) and steps out in the Class One Lantau Island Handicap (1,200m) at Sha Tin on Saturday.

All going well the son of Pins will progress to the Group Two Sprint Cup (1,200m) on April 5 before tackling the Group One Chairman’s Sprint Prize (1,200m) on Champions Day late next month.

“He’s travelling well and he’s in better shape than before his last run, so he should be competitive,” Shum said.

Hong Kong Derby field finalised; unlikely inclusion gives Douglas Whyte a two-pronged attack

“He had colic surgery and took a long time to recover but his first start in over a year was very good. He trialled well and his work has been good.”

Regency Legend has been nothing if not a labour of love for Shum, who hopes he will now be rewarded with some continuity.

After winning his first four starts in Hong Kong to graduate to Group grade, Regency Legend struggled in his first three outings against the best and has been plagued by issues since pulling up with substantial blood in his trachea after his second win.

He’s been found with blood in his trachea after racing another three times – including after his effort in January – as well as suffering a fetlock injury and undergoing colic surgery in September last year.

The gelding enters Saturday’s contest on the back of a comfortable all-weather trial victory last week and jumps from gate six under Zac Purton, who climbs back aboard after partnering the galloper to three of his four Hong Kong victories.

Regency Legend again tackles Hot King Prawn, meeting him 12 pounds better off at the weights, while Centenary Sprint Cup runners Voyage Warrior, Big Party, Computer Patch and Buddies also line up.

Rounding out the nine-horse field are progressive trio Winning Dreamer, Sky Field and Wellington.

Shum also saddles up a runner in Saturday’s other Class One, with Playa Del Puente one of seven entrants for the Ap Lei Chau Handicap (1,600m) after finishing last in the Group One Gold Cup (2,000m) in February.

“He drops to Class One but it’s still going to be difficult, he doesn’t have any form this season. He’s not a Group One horse,” Shum said of the five-year-old, who will be ridden by Matthew Chadwick.

Elsewhere on the card, Shum has enlisted Purton to partner Hongkong Great in the Class Three Ma Wan Handicap (1,650m) on the dirt after Antoine Hamelin got things wrong on the Chilean import last month.

Sent out a $4.30 second elect after a dominant front-running win over the extended dirt mile in January, Hongkong Great again went forward over 1,800m last start but the Frenchman didn’t quite rate the five-year-old appropriately.

After covering the first 1,000m 2.31 seconds inside standard and at one stage leading by as much as 10 lengths, Hongkong Great faded late but still hung onto third, only two lengths off winner Bear Slam.

“Hopefully he can travel a little bit slower and 1,650m is his better trip. He’s a good dirt horse and he’s very fit,” Shum said.