Alexis Badel believes Happy Together has the experience and skill set required to notch consecutive 1,800m Group Three victories in this Sunday’s Centenary Vase at Sha Tin.

Aboard for all five of Happy Together’s starts this season, including four wins, Badel is confident his partner in crime can capitalise on his 118-pound impost and inside draw this weekend.

“He’s a quality horse and a handicap is still preferable for him because he’s not carrying too much weight. He has a big heart and he always tries hard,” Badel said. “He knows what the job is and I’m confident he’s going to run a big race.”

While Happy Together returned to the winner’s enclosure after only one of his 10 starts for Richard Gibson last season, a change to the Frankie Lor Fu-chuen stable has revitalised the son of Dragon Pulse.

After saluting at Class Three level on his seasonal reappearance over the Sha Tin 1,600m in September, Happy Together landed a Class Two success over the same course and distance in November.

The five-year-old subsequently gave a good account of himself to place in the Class One Chevalier Cup (1,600m) before returning to winning ways over the extended Happy Valley mile in December.

Happy Together then produced a career-best effort to snare last month’s Group Three January Cup (1,800m) at the Valley, staying on strongly to finish three-quarters of a length ahead of La City Blanche, who he meets again on Sunday, with Classic Mile hope Helene Feeling in third.

After showcasing his versatility already this season, Happy Together must again adapt to new surroundings in only his second appearance over the Sha Tin 1,800m.

While the Lor-trained gelding failed to fire for the Gibson yard when fifth on his sole start over Sunday’s course and distance, Badel believes the combination of a favourable draw and added experience will enable the progressive galloper to settle in the early stages.

“He’s more experienced now and he is in gate two,” Badel said. “He’s kept maturing and getting more professional, but I’m still going to try and relax him to stay the trip. Hopefully, we’ll be in the right spot and hit the line strong.”

Badel is no stranger to producing a shock four-year-old series result, most recently pinching last year’s Hong Kong Derby aboard Voyage Bubble at $46, and the Frenchman is hoping the Danny Shum Chap-shing-trained Moments In Time can spring a surprise in the Classic Mile.

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A Group One winner over 2,000m in Chile, Moments In Time has steadily progressed with each of his four appearances in Hong Kong and kept on all the way to the Happy Valley winning post to finish second over 1,650m last month.

While acknowledging the tough task ahead of him, Badel hopes the son of Lookin At Lucky can impress this weekend en route to the Classic Cup (1,800m) and Derby (2,000m).

“He’s a decent horse and I think he’s got quality,” Badel said. “He will probably be better over the longer trips, but he’s a good ride and anything can happen in the Classic Mile.”