Jamie Richards was given a welcome boost when the promising pair Cool Boy and City Gold Banner gave the trainer a double at Sha Tin on Sunday.

The 36-year-old’s last winner came from Cool Boy back at last month’s Hong Kong International Races meeting and he was the one who got the Kiwi handler back on the board with an impressive performance.

Defying stall 14 and a wide trip on debut, Cool Boy produced a smart turn of foot in the first section of the Class Four Cycling Handicap (1,200m) under James Orman to go back to back.

The son of Per Incanto had a much smoother run on this occasion, sitting two-wide behind the leaders and when in the clear in the straight, he was unleashed to salute by three-quarters of a length from the fast-finishing Circuit Champion.

“He’s been racing well, I thought it was a good effort considering he had to carry 135lb,” said Richards. “He was aided by a beautiful ride from James, who’s riding really well.

“He probably got to the front a bit early and was having a good look around, but I think he’s a really nice horse and I’m pleased with how he went.

“He had a better draw than last time but in saying that, on international day, being out wide was the place to be in hindsight.

“He’s had a good couple of set ups and he’s won well. He’s got to keep improving, but he’s a nice young horse and we’ll just continue to space his runs out.

“He’s only a three-year-old so hopefully he can keep progressing and will be a nice horse for next year – he’s by a good sire in Per Incanto and is a lovely looking horse, so hopefully the future is bright.”

Things got even better for Richards 30 minutes later when City Gold Banner ran riot on his Hong Kong debut to win the Class Three 15th National Games Hong Kong Medallists Cup (1,000m).

A winner in Australia pre-import, the Starspangledbanner galloper had caught the eye in his local trials and created a huge impression up the straight, sitting towards the rear before being switched widest of all by Zac Purton, who swooped down the centre to win handsomely without using the whip.

The one-and-a-quarter-length winning margin does not do the victory justice and Richards is very positive about the future with his strapping four-year-old, who was a first winner for his trainer syndicate.

“It’s great – these are my mum and dad’s racing colours from New Zealand, so that’s great for the pink colours to have a win at Sha Tin,” said Richards.

“He did a really good job. He’s a nice horse. I thought he would run well – I wasn’t sure if he was ready to win just yet, but he put them away nicely.

“I’m glad that we ran him over 1,000 because he was a little bit strong in the middle stages, but he looks like he’s got some rating points in hand, so hopefully he can work his way through the grades.”

The double brushed aside a recent lull for Richards, who started the season with a real flourish, and City Gold Banner could be one of the stable’s more progressive types as he continues to become adjusted to Hong Kong’s conditions.

“He’s probably just still adapting to Hong Kong a little bit – he’s not the easiest horse to ride in the mornings. I must give the riding boys at home at Sha Tin and at Conghua a big thankyou because they’ve done a good job on him, and Keith Yeung [Ming-lun] did a good job educating him at the trials,” said Richards.

“The horse is going the right way and it’s nice to have a double here at Sha Tin with a couple of nice, young horses.

“He looks a sprinter to me. I would say with his keenness in the middle stages, he would need another 1,000m [start].”