While Jamie Richards admits last season didn’t pan out exactly how he anticipated, the Kiwi handler is confident his stable can shine in the 2024-25 campaign with a number of well-rated horses ready to hit the track.

The trainer returned 31 winners from 503 runners in his second season in the city last term – four less than his maiden campaign – and the 35-year-old is optimistic he can better that tally with a squad of 63 gallopers in his yard.

“I’m hoping that we can up the ante a little bit this season,” Richards said. “I don’t feel like we did a whole lot wrong last year, but we had a few things that didn’t go our way like bad gates.

“We had a few horses last season who placed and weren’t able to win like Storming Dragon, Lucky Touch and Yee Cheong Raider, and I’m hoping those horses can take the next step up as four-year-olds this season. I’d say we’ve got a few horses there that are quite well rated.”

Richards will bid to open his account for the new season at the venue where he enjoyed most of his success last year, with the handler sending Happy Feeling, Sixth Generation, To Infinity and Ma Comet to the opening meeting at Happy Valley on Wednesday night.

While Richards will undoubtedly be looking for a fast start to the season, he believes it may take a few weeks before his stable’s representatives reach top gear.

“I haven’t wanted to rush them too much in the early part of the season, but I’m hoping towards the end of September we’ve got a few winners there,” Richards said.

“The horses seem to be doing well now, so hopefully towards the end of September and building towards Christmas we can get a few on the board.”

On Wednesday night, Karis Teetan hops aboard Ma Comet as the five-year-old aims to go one better than his past three starts in the Class Four Kiu Tsui Handicap (1,000m).

The consistent galloper finished a neck behind the John Size-trained Grand Nova on his last run of the season and will have to defy a wide berth in stall 10 on his seasonal reappearance.

“He’s a horse that just took a little while to acclimatise, but when he got down into Class Four and 1,000m at the Valley he seemed to find a bit of a home there,” Richards said. “He ran well towards the end of last season without winning one.

“He seems to be going well and although it would’ve been easier if he had drawn a softer gate, he’ll be going forward and hopefully he can find a nice spot.”