Champion jockey Zac Purton has confirmed he will stick with Brazilian Group One winner Sagacious Life in the Classic Cup (1,800m) on March 1.

Purton was disappointed by the Pierre Ng Pang-chi-trained import’s fourth to Little Paradise in the first leg of the four-year-old series, the Classic Mile, but the eight-time Hong Kong champion rider and Sagacious Life will seek redemption next month.

An impressive winner at two of his first three local starts, Sagacious Life settled midfield with cover from barrier 13 and kept on solidly despite laying in throughout the straight.

The rise in trip could be what Sagacious Life needs given he was a dominant Group One winner of the Derby Paulista (2,400m) on his final pre-import start.

However, Little Paradise will be hard to beat on the strength of his barnstorming Classic Mile success while Australian import Numbers also looks a top chance after his Group Three Centenary Vase (1,800m) triumph on Sunday.

Purton, who won the Classic Cup on California Spangle in 2022, had the choice of seven top contenders in the Classic Mile, including Little Paradise, but elected to ride Sagacious Life.

Replacement rider Vincent Ho Chak-yiu was in the saddle for Little Paradise’s two-length blitz.

While Sagacious Life also shapes an ideal BMW Hong Kong Derby (2,000m) candidate, Purton said he will wait until closer to the HK$26 million feature on March 22 before confirming his ride.

“There’s still a lot of time between now and the Derby, so a lot can change,” said Purton, who has won the Derby on Massive Sovereign (2024) and Luger (2015).

Meanwhile, trainer Manfred Man Ka-leung is thrilled with Self Improvement’s condition since he flew to Saudi Arabia last Friday ahead of Saturday night’s Group Two Riyadh Dirt Sprint (1,200m).

“He travelled over well and my staff reported that everything is fine with him – he’s eating and drinking well,” Man said

“I will go over on Tuesday. He can handle it – I think the track will be suitable for him.”

Man, jockey Jerry Chau Chun-lok and Self Improvement will be chasing a second international victory this season after the gelding’s Group Three Korea Sprint (1,200m) win on Seoul’s sand track in September.

The son of Deep Field will face a new challenge on the King Abdulaziz racecourse’s dirt track in the US$2 million (HK$15.6 million) feature.

The four-time Sha Tin all-weather winner will represent Hong Kong in a race with plenty of international flavour, including dirt gallopers from Japan, America, the UK and Dubai.

In other news, Man will set stable star Lucky Sweynesse for another clash with the world’s best sprinter Ka Ying Rising in the Group One Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup (1,400m) on February 22.

Lucky Sweynesse is fresh from a strong first test over 1,600m, having led and kept on well to run second to champion galloper Romantic Warrior in the Group One Stewards’ Cup last month.

The seven-year-old notched one of his four Group One triumphs in the Queen’s Silver Jubilee in 2023 when he upset odds-on favourite California Spangle.

Ka Ying Rising will bid to break Silent Witness’ Hong Kong record of 17 consecutive victories when he defends his Queen’s Silver Jubilee crown. The superstar will trial at Sha Tin on Tuesday morning.