Danny Shum Chap-shing is hopeful Nordic Dragon’s return to Happy Valley can be a fruitful one when the five-time course winner lines up in Wednesday’s Class Two Stanley Handicap (1,200m).

A HK$7 million Hong Kong International Sale purchase in 2022, Nordic Dragon notched five victories from seven outings at Happy Valley last term and returns to the city circuit for the first time this season.

After failing to fire in his two outings at Sha Tin, finishing sixth on September 24 and seventh on October 15, Shum believes Nordic Dragon can take a step forward from gate 10 at his favoured venue.

“I tried him twice at Sha Tin but it didn’t really work, so we’re bringing him back to Happy Valley,” Shum said. “I don’t know why, but he seems to prefer Happy Valley.”

Nordic Dragon wasted no time making an impact in Hong Kong and readily dismissed his rivals on his first two career appearances last season.

Despite drawing a blank on his next three outings, the 93-rated son of Starspangledbanner resumed his progress by signing off for the season with a hat-trick over Wednesday’s course and distance.

“He won five times at Happy Valley last season and he likes it here, but it’s hard for him to win off such a high rating in a handicap,” Shum said. “He trialled only OK last time, it wasn’t a super trial.”

In the absence of the suspended Hugh Bowman, who partnered Nordic Dragon in his past two starts, champion jockey Zac Purton hopped aboard the bay gelding in a recent barrier trial and will be in the saddle on Wednesday.

Fresh from his trip to Australia to ride Absurde in Tuesday’s Group One Melbourne Cup (3,200m), Purton (21 wins) will be hoping to extend his lead over Bowman (20) in the premiership, with Bowman returning from his suspension at Sha Tin on Saturday.

Among Nordic Dragon’s opponents include stablemate Majestic Star and Son Pak Fu, who returns to Class Two company after a promising runner-up effort at Happy Valley last month.

Shum saddles nine runners on Wednesday’s nine-race card, with Lightning Bolt heading to the Class Three Shek O Handicap (1,200m) on the hunt for a hat-trick.

After a disappointing first-up effort when ninth of 12 over 1,600m at Sha Tin, Lightning Bolt bounced back on his first trip to Happy Valley, saluting at $16 in the Class Three Cuckoo Handicap (1,200m) on September 27.

The speedster then landed back-to-back victories on his second trip to the city circuit on October 11, with Purton driving Lightning Bolt to the lead in the closing stages.

“He’s in good form and I’m looking forward to Wednesday,” Shum said of the galloper. “He’s won twice at Happy Valley over 1,200m so I think he’s got a good chance. He keeps getting better and better.”

Lightning Bolt will have to carry 133 pounds, with last-start victor Ready To Win and the unexposed Sweet Briar among those standing in his way.