He’s had more than his fair share of seconds and thirds this season but Benno Yung Tin-pang has a solid chance of improving his winning strike rate when he saddles a trio of last-start placegetters at Sha Tin on Sunday.

While the 65-year-old trainer has collected 16 wins at 7 per cent this term, his 52 minor placings at 22 per cent rank him in the top handful of trainers when it comes to near misses.

Gummy Gummy and Speedy Smartie enter Sunday’s meeting on the back of consecutive seconds, while James Tak was a last-start third.

A two-time winner on Sha Tin’s 1,200m all-weather course last season, Gummy Gummy has found only one rival too strong on his two appearances this term and bids to get his head in front at the all-important moment in the Class Two TVB Cup (1,400m) on turf.

After bumping into the exciting Pierre Ng Pang-chi-trained Galaxy Patch in last month’s Class Two Pok Oi Cup (1,200m) on the turf, the four-year-old could only get within a head of Bundle Of Charm on the all-weather a fortnight ago.

Both of those efforts have taken a recent form boost – Galaxy Patch and Bundle Of Charm finished second and third, respectively, in a red-hot Class Two contest last weekend – and Yung believes Gummy Gummy is in good shape to go one better.

“He’s in good form, a decent draw would have helped him a bit,” Yung said of Gummy Gummy, who jumps from barrier eight. “I hope he can win, of course, but it’s a competitive race.”

Gummy Gummy faces 11 rivals and will return to 1,400m for the first time since the son of Snitzel finished seventh under Sunday’s rider Jerry Chau Chun-lok in January last year.

Yung, who saddles a total of seven runners on the card, says the lack of options for his galloper was a contributing factor behind his decision to step the speedster up in trip.

“There’s no dirt race there for him, and he can handle the turf and the dirt. I think 1,400m will be OK,” he said.

James Tak, who got off the mark at the second time of asking in December, couldn’t deliver as the $1.5 favourite last start and will aim to bounce back in the second section of the Class Four TVB Yan Chai Charity Show Handicap (1,200m).

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While James Tak failed to justify his short price on the hunt for consecutive 1,000m wins last month, Yung believes an awkward start contributed to the under-par effort.

“He stumbled at the start last time,” Yung said. “He carries a heavy weight and he’s still young, but this race could be OK. He’s had a short break, which could help a bit.”

Speedy Smartie’s runner-up efforts have caught the eye of Zac Purton, who jumps aboard for the Class Four TVB Tung Wah Charity Show Handicap (1,200m) on the dirt.