Second-season trainer Jamie Richards nominated Sports Legend as a horse to follow throughout this campaign, and prominent owner Boniface Ho Ka-kui’s sprinter will make his Hong Kong debut on Wednesday night.

A two-time winner over 1,100m from his seven starts for Randwick-based trainer Les Bridge – the Australian handler who prepared Ho’s Classique Legend to win The Everest in 2020 – Sports Legend will contest the Class Three Nam Fung Handicap (1,000m) at Happy Valley.

Sports Legend’s barrier draw of gate eight in the nine-runner race dented Richards’ confidence in the four-year-old son of star stallion Deep Field and Group Two-placed and Inglis Classic-winning mare Twist Tops making a triumphant first Hong Kong appearance under the premier local rider, Vincent Ho Chak-yiu.

However, Richards expects Sports Legend, the second Ho-owned galloper to enter his Sha Tin stable, to improve as he gets used to his new surroundings.

“His trials have been good, and I’m looking forward to getting him to the races,” Richards said of his well-bred charge. “I think the 1,000m will be OK, but he’s drawn out, so he’s going to find it difficult.

“He’ll be staying over the shorter trips for a little while yet. He’s still acclimatising a little bit, and his coat is still a little bit backward. But he’s starting to improve, and I think he’ll benefit from going to the races rather than having another trial.

“It’s a very competitive place, a very hard place to train winners. Having a nice horse in the stable for a big international owner is a big thrill. It all helps,” added Richards, who saddled Ho’s Group Three Vo Rogue Plate (1,350m) winner Tiger Legend twice in Hong Kong before connections retired the gelding.

Richards has a four-strong squad for Wednesday night’s meeting at Happy Valley, with Red Elegance, August Moon and Unison also representing the Kiwi trainer.

Red Elegance will be first up in the Class Three Hong Kong Country Club Challenge Cup (1,200m), August Moon will make his third start this term when he tackles the first section of the Class Four Tai Shue Wan Handicap (1,200m), and unraced Unison will step out in the second section of the Tai Shue Wan Handicap.

Hugh Bowman rode Unison in the latest two of his four Hong Kong trials, and the early jockeys’ championship leader will partner the four-year-old son of Per Incanto and Ronda. The Tai Shue Wan Handicap’s capacity field includes two last-start Happy Valley winners, Joy Coming and Watch Buddy.

HK’s only other Turnbull runner ‘a good horse but not a patch on Romantic Warrior’

“His trials have been pretty good. He came through the system at home. He still lacks a bit of toughness. He only had one trial before he arrived because he was getting a bit older,” Richards said of his newcomer.

“Hugh likes him and wants to stick with him. He’s one to watch in his next two or three starts.”