Frankie Lor Fu-chuen’s boom four-year-old Dark Dream (達龍駒) steps out for his Hong Kong debut this weekend and the second-year trainer says he will know more about whether he has a Derby prospect on his hands after Sunday’s race.

Dark Dream (達龍駒) follows in the footsteps of Eagle Way (鷹雄) and Ruthven (佳騰駒), who both run in Sunday’s Longines Hong Kong Vase, as horses to have been sold to Hong Kong after winning the Group One Queensland Derby (2,200m), with Ruthven (佳騰駒) starting his career with John Moore before transferring to Lor’s yard this season.

Dark Dream (達龍駒), who won four times in Australia, has trialled twice since arriving in Hong Kong and Lor expects a solid showing from the promising gelding in the Class Two Maurice Handicap (1,600m) at Sha Tin on Sunday.

"He’s trialled twice and he’s looked good. I can’t say he’s 100 per cent but he’s in good form at this moment and he will show something on Sunday,” Lor said. "I have confidence in the horse.”

It is a big day for Lor as he chases his first Group One victory with a three-strong hand in the Hong Kong International Races and Dark Dream (達龍駒) shapes as the next piece in the puzzle as he builds towards becoming a top-line trainer.

It will be Dark Dream (達龍駒)’s first run since winning June’s Queensland Derby at Doomben and Lor says the horse has adapted well to life at Sha Tin, but won’t know until he runs if he’s settled well enough to be aimed for Hong Kong’s Derby in March.

"Looking towards the Derby, I will have a look this Sunday how he races and then I can decide,” Lor said.

Zac Purton takes the ride and Lor knows he’ll get an honest assessment from the Australian champion. “Zac can tell me something after race,” Lor said.

Dark Dream (達龍駒) comes up against John Size’s progressive type Insayshable (翠龍) –­ a winner in Class Two this season – and the John Moore-trained Good Standing (信心保證), who drops back from Class One in search of his maiden Hong Kong victory.

There is also another Derby winner in the field, with the Tony Cruz-trained Helene Leadingstar (喜蓮騏星) stepping out for the first time after winning at Group One level in the South Australian Derby (2,500m) in May.

Outside HKIR runners Mr Stunning (紅衣醒神) (Sprint), Glorious Forever (歡樂之光) (Cup) and Ruthven (佳騰駒), Lor has three other starters on Sunday, saddling up Noble De Love (魅力知寶), Kings Shield (黃金甲) and Gameplayer Emperor (電玩皇者).

Lor is yet to extract a win out of Noble De Love (魅力知寶) since receiving him from Manfred Man Ka-leung at the beginning of last season, but he has a solid second-up record and could give a nice sight in the Class Four Jim and Tonic Handicap (1,400m).

Kings Shield (黃金甲) is another having his first start in Hong Kong and the former John Gosden-trained gelding lines up in the Class Two Lord Kanaloa Handicap (1,200m), while Gameplayer Emperor (電玩皇者) is chasing his first win at start number nine in the Class Three Highland Reel Handicap (1,400m).