Angus Chung Yik-lai is excited about his prospects of claiming a maiden Group race victory when Tony Cruz’s import Stunning Peach bids for a hat-trick in Monday’s Group Two Chairman’s Trophy (1,600m) at Sha Tin.

While the in-form five-year-old has taken longer than expected to hit his mark in Hong Kong, he has earned his chance as a Group Two contender after back-to-back victories in Class Two company with Chung on board at both starts.

“I think in my career it might be the best horse I’ve ridden so far,” Chung said.

Previously trained by Joseph O’Brien, the Irish import was bought as a Hong Kong Derby (2,000m) prospect but fell short of expectations in his four-year-old season.

“He’s from Ireland and then raced in Europe, so I think he just needed to get used to racing in Hong Kong,” Chung said.

Chung is full of praise for the progressive son of Wooten Bassett, who found winning form again as a five-year-old when taking out the Class Two Horse Of The Year Handicap (1,600m) from Derby runner Top Dragon, scoring by a short head after 621 days between wins.

“I think this season he’s been a little bit better. I think last season he was a little bit hesitant to go through the line. I’m not sure why that is, but this season he’s concentrating – even in track work he’s concentrating. That’s why I think this season he’s improved a little bit,” Chung said.

Chung is hopeful that the Chairman’s Trophy will be a genuinely-run race to give Stunning Peach every chance.

“He doesn’t have the early speed. The last start over 1,800m, the horses in front were going very quick and it was pretty easy to catch them up in the stretch,” Chung said.

“But I found in the mile, the high rating horses, they’re always going not so quick or steady. So if they change the pattern it will help him. But in the mile they’re always going standard time or maybe slower than standard time. So hopefully those horses go quicker.”

Stunning Peach also holds a nomination for the Group One Champions Mile on April 26.

Before chasing his first Group victory, Chung has five rides at Wednesday night’s all-weather meeting at Sha Tin including veteran galloper Telecom Fighters in the Class Three Choi Wan Handicap (1,650m).

“He’s very consistent – it surprises me that this horse still can run so well, honestly,” Chung said of the nine-year-old, who bids for his first triumph since 12 months ago with Chung in the saddle.

Chung is hoping Me Tsui Yu-sak’s stable stalwart will have the race run to suit to enable optimum breathing conditions.

“He’s good on the all-weather. The main point is he needs to breathe, he needs to be travelling. If he’s got a good pace, he can breathe and he will perform well. It would be ideal to get a good lead and then control the pace, and if he can control the pace then he will run well,” Chung said.

Superb Capitalist and Chung will carry on their long association in the Class Three Choi Hung Handicap (1,200m), where the 82-rater will switch back to the all-weather track.

“In the all-weather trials he performs well, so we’re just trying to find something to help him, especially with his rating,” Chung said.

The Capitalist galloper was once known for his gate speed, but his starts have become more unpredictable with age.

“This season he’s not very quick at the beginning. He used to be very quick in the beginning and then he would stay on in the last 400m, but this has changed a little bit – I think as he’s getting older,” Chung said.

“Hopefully he can do well. It seems like there will be a few horses going forward, so we’ll possibly sit behind them.”

Macanese Master has found form this season with a pair of Happy Valley victories and will step back up to the 1,200m trip in the Class Five Shek Kip Mei Handicap, where he will jump from gate eight.

“He’s very consistent after the first win. He’s raced on the all-weather one time and he was slow out at the start, but he still performed very well. If he doesn’t miss the start, I think he will lead,” Chung said.

Night Purosangue has been unlucky to draw wide once again in barrier 12 in the Class Four Nam Shan Handicap (1,650m), however the light weight of 120lb should alleviate the task.

“Last time he had a bit of bad luck. He drew far left and it was difficult getting to the rail, so hopefully we can get some luck from this barrier,” Chung said.

“This horse just needs luck. You can’t use him at the beginning too much, otherwise he can’t finish. I think last start they were maybe a little bit too quick in front and he was a little bit weak in the last 100m, but if we can get in a good position and get a good pace, it will help him.”

Osi Honour rounds out Chung’s book of rides in the Class Four Ping Shek Handicap (1,800m).