The in-form Jerry Chau Chun-lok is confident Chill Chibi’s strong Classic Series form can translate into a maiden Class Two victory as the four-year-old returns to his “best distance” at Sha Tin on Saturday.

Four lengths off winner Helios Express when seventh in the Classic Cup (1,800m) and three lengths adrift of Massive Sovereign when a nice fourth in last month’s Hong Kong Derby (2,000m), Chill Chibi is looking to salute at Sha Tin for the first time in the Advancing Culture & Sports Handicap (1,800m).

“He did a very good job [in the Classic Series] and I think he’s very competitive now in Class Two,” said Chau of the Danny Shum Chap-shing-trained Chill Chibi, who faces fellow Derby runner Speed Dragon as well as the likes of Flaming Rabbit and La City Blanche this weekend.

“He handled Sha Tin well and before the Derby in [the Classic Cup] he ran a very good race. I’m looking forward to him doing a good job tomorrow.

“It looks like his best distance is 1,800m but I think he can handle further in the future.”

Chau was in the saddle for three of Chill Chibi’s four Happy Valley victories – the most recent at 1,800m – and also had the reins when the son of Wrote stretched his legs in a recent 1,600m Sha Tin turf trial.

“I’m very happy with his trial. Normally when he trials he’s very casual. He doesn’t overuse his energy and he just does enough for the race,” said Chau, who has landed five winners from his past 20 rides. “He finished off very strong in his last gallop and he’s very well now.”

One jockey who hasn’t been seeing them quite as well as Chau recently is Zac Purton, who has been beaten on 10 favourites across the past two meetings, but the star Australian looks well placed to bounce back with a full book of 10 rides this weekend.

Perhaps the most intriguing is the Jamie Richards-trained Young Achiever, who won last year’s Group Two German 2,000 Guineas (1,600m) under Andrea Atzeni when named Angers and will make his Hong Kong debut in the Class Three Nurturing Talent Handicap (1,200m).

“He felt good and he trialled nicely. He does give me the impression that he wants further so it might be on the sharp side for him,” Purton said.

“But he’s first up and they can sprint well on debut sometimes, so I’m hoping that’s the case.

“He handles [soft ground], but there are different tracks in different parts of the world. A horse may handle a soft track somewhere else but not handle a soft track here.”

Purton also has a live chance aboard John Size’s Magnificent Nine in the Class Three Sustainability Handicap (1,400m), with his mount attempting to prevent Patch Of Theta ringing up his hat-trick.

A comfortable winner under Hugh Bowman two starts back, Patch Of Theta saluted under Karis Teetan late last month but will reunite with the Australian jockey on Saturday.

“He’s progressive and he’s a big, strong horse. Although he’s gone up in the handicap I don’t think carrying the extra weight will be an issue for him,” Bowman said.

“He’s still learning. Both his wins he’s had everything go his way and he hasn’t really had to work for it. But he’s learning as he goes and he’s certainly on an upward spiral.”