Trainer Jimmy Ting Koon-ho is hopeful of building up a Sha Tin winning streak as he unleashes a top-class newcomer to his stable in one of this weekend’s big races.

Ting struck twice at last week’s meeting with Mission Bravo and debutant Smiling Collector and has proven Group-level performer Computer Patch in action in the Class One Lam Tsuen Handicap (1,200m) on Saturday.

Last successful at Group Three level in October 2020, Computer Patch has been disappointing this season after finishing in the first five in seven of his nine Group races last term.

Ting is delighted to have picked up Computer Patch from the Tony Cruz yard and revealed that he may employ new tactics as he attempts to get his new arrival back into form.

“It’s good to have a horse like him in our stable,” Ting said. “His form is already very good but this time we think we’ll try to sit back a little bit in the run and hope just like his trial, that he’ll come up strong.

“Everything is fine, we don’t need to change any of his gear. This race is still very strong but I think that he’ll run well as his form is very strong.”

This Class One handicap is a Group race in all but name and if Computer Patch is to get back into the winner’s enclosure, he will need to reverse the form on plenty of his rivals from the Group One Centenary Sprint Cup last time.

On that occasion, Computer Patch finished last with Master Eight, Super Wealthy and Hot King Prawn all finishing in front of him.

While Computer Patch may be Ting’s highest-profile runner at Sha Tin, he has some other chances on the card and nominates General Winner as his best hope in the Class Four Wu Kau Tang Handicap (1,400m).

General Winner finished third last time on only his fourth career start and Ting has tweaked his headgear in an attempt to find some improvement.

“He is my best chance on Saturday,” Ting said. “Last time his jockey said he wasn’t concentrating so this time I will give him cheek pieces.”

Coming Patch stayed on well from a long way back on his debut over 1,000m at Sha Tin on his Hong Kong debut last time and Ting expects him to show some improvement stepping up in trip in the Class Three Tai Po Kau Handicap (1,200m).

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“He has definitely improved a little from his first start,” Ting said. “The 1,200m will be better for him than the 1,000m but the horse is still very young and is still learning. I hope he runs better this time.”

A couple of Ting’s stable stalwarts are also in action at Sha Tin with Perfect Pair contesting the Class Three Tai Po Market Handicap (1,400m) and Happily Friends switching from his favourite Happy Valley course to run in the Class Four Ting Kok Handicap (1,200m), and Ting holds different expectations for each horse.

“Perfect Pair has a chance to win but needs some luck,” Ting said. “Happily Friends is better at Happy Valley but his last two starts there have been disappointing. This time we try Sha Tin hopefully to see if he’s better or not.”