The Post caught up with the city’s top handlers to get the lowdown on their battalions for the new season. From rising stars to superstars, they outline their hopes for the 2024-25 campaign in part one of the HK Stable Rundown.

Pierre Ng Pang-chi

Galaxy Patch

“He’s been having a good break and he trialled last Tuesday. We’ll see if he needs three or four trials but we’re planning to run him in the Sha Tin Trophy on October 13, the Group Two [Jockey Club] Mile in November and then at the international meeting in December. It will probably be the Hong Kong Mile, then we’re looking forward to taking on Romantic Warrior potentially over a longer trip later in the season, maybe in the Gold Cup.”

Taj Dragon

“He was very consistent last season but this season we might try something else. We tried him over a mile which may have been a bit too long for him. We’ve put the blinkers on him and we’ll try a shorter distance this year and have a crack at sprinting.”

Mugen

“He’s brilliant. A very lightly-raced horse and he’ll be developing into a nice horse this season. The first crack is the Group One [Sprinters Stakes] in Japan and then we’ll probably come back for the Hong Kong Sprint. If everything goes well, we’ll have another trip to Japan in March for the Takamatsunomiya Kinen.”

One to follow this season

“Johannes Brahms has a lot of catch up work to do but he’s a quality horse. His temperament is perfect for Hong Kong and I think he’s a very very good chance for the four-year-old series.”

Danny Shum Chap-shing

Romantic Warrior

“He’s good, happy and healthy. He enjoyed a good summer and his main early target will be [the Jockey Club Cup] November and then he will go to the Hong Kong Cup. He has another brilliant season ahead for sure.”

Victor The Winner

“I kept him fresh and gave him a reasonable chance to recover over the summer and he’s doing well. He has experience in Japan so he should be OK in the Sprinters Stakes.”

Moments In Time

“He trialled beautifully last month. He put on a bit of weight but he’s fresh and happy. He’ll probably go to Happy Valley on the 18th [September] for a Class Two over 1,650m. Hopefully the [Group Three] January Cup at Happy Valley could be the race for him.”

Romantic Thor (formerly Capulet)

“He’ll trial this month at Happy Valley. He’s a nice horse and I haven’t gelded him. He’s one for the Classic Series and the Derby is definitely the plan.”

Ricky Yiu Poon-fai

Voyage Bubble

“He’s doing really well in Conghua and I couldn’t be happier. He hasn’t put a step wrong and he’s going to have a bright season. The Hong Kong Mile will be his first main target and we’ll go from there.”

Straight Arron

“He’s a nice horse and he’s working OK, but I need to find out a bit more from him as he’s only a new transfer.”

Nimble Nimbus

“He’s fine. Rating-wise he’s probably up near his top but he always tries very hard. This will be his last season so we’ll see if he can maintain his performances from last season.”

One to follow this season

“There are a few horses that have come in unraced that could be good, but Solid Win is a nice horse so I’d say he’s one to watch.”

David Hayes

Ka Ying Rising

“He was a bit special on Sunday and he’s doing very well after. The Premier Bowl is next and that’s in about five or six weeks, then we’ll go to the Jockey Club Sprint in November and the Hong Kong Sprint.”

One to follow this season

“Rubylot, definitely. He’s been trialling up very well and I think he’s a good horse.”

David Hall

Invincible Sage

“He’s strengthened up really well and he’s a professional little racehorse. He’s probably a bit of a stronger version than he was last season so hopefully that does him well and he can still climb the ladder a little bit higher. He’ll kick off on October 1 in the National Day Cup because he goes so well down the straight and then go to the Hong Kong Sprint.”

Watch out for part two of the HK Stable Rundown this Thursday.