Ricky Yiu Poon-fai unleashed an exciting newcomer to Hong Kong when former Australian galloper Midori Glory claimed the Class Three Renfrew Handicap (1,000m) at Happy Valley on Wednesday night.

Boasting wins at Goulburn and Taree from three Australian starts pre-import, the flashy Shooting To Win gelding capitalised on barrier one to make a winning start to his career in the city under Matthew Poon Ming-fai.

After settling on the back of pacesetter Fast Serve, Midori Glory gained an inside run in the straight and found plenty late to deny the $2.2 favourite, Beauty Waves, a third consecutive triumph.

Beauty Waves sat outside of the lead for Zac Purton but fell narrowly short, beaten a head. Fast Serve held third, beaten three quarters of a length, in his first start since last July.

Despite being sent out an $11 chance in his Hong Kong debut, Midori Glory’s minor upset came as no surprise to Yiu.

“The draw helped him first time here, but I didn’t worry about the sharp turns because in the morning he can cope with everything,” Yiu said.

“He’s acclimatised really well and Shooting To Win is a good sire for Hong Kong. The owner bought him as a yearling.

“I wasn’t surprised at all. I really like the particular sire and [Midori Glory has] been very genuine at home.

“Eventually he will step up to 1,200m, but I think 1,000m is good at the moment. Whether it’s here or Sha Tin, it doesn’t matter.”

On an even night of racing, Karis Teetan and Danny Shum Chap-shing shared honours with both recording doubles.

Teetan continued his fine season, boosting his tally to 72 wins after booting home Me Tsui Yu-sak’s Arthur’s Kingdom in the Class Five Chester Handicap (2,200m) and Francis Lui Kin-wai’s Forever Glorious in the Class Four St George’s Challenge Cup (1,650m).

Shum prepared Satirical Fan to a shock win at $27.5 in the second section of the Class Four Lancashire Handicap (1,650m) under Ellis Wong Chi-wang, before The Perfect Match sealed his brace in the second section of the Class Four Hereford Handicap (1,200m).

Breaking through in his third Hong Kong start, The Perfect Match impressed jockey Hugh Bowman after storming home to beat Telecom Speed by a short head.

“He had natural pace which is a good help here and he’s only lightly-raced, so there’s certainly plenty of upside to him,” Bowman said.

“He showed plenty of courage.”

Forever Glorious helped Lui reduce Pierre Ng Pang-chi’s lead in the trainers’ premiership to two as their tight battle for the championship continues.

Elsewhere, Tony Cruz warmed up for Sunday’s Group One Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup (2,400m) with victory in the Class Two Wiltshire Handicap (1,200m) with Superb Capitalist.

After an explosive win at the course and distance at his previous start, Superb Capitalist handled a rise in class to lead all the way under Matthew Chadwick, scoring by a length and a quarter from Gummy Gummy.

“This horse is very consistent and he likes the track,” Cruz said.

“I’m going to bring him back here again for another race.”

Cruz will start La City Blanche and Five G Patch in the Champions & Chater Cup.

Dennis Yip Hor-chong’s former British speedster, Lean Master, notched his second win this term when leading all the way under Harry Bentley in the first section of the Class Four Hereford Handicap.

“The horse is in very good form and everything was good for him tonight,” Yip said.

“He’s a front runner and it was difficult to catch up from behind. He’s from Europe and he’s only a four-year-old, so I think he can keep improving and go up to Class Three.”