Excited to partner Waikuku (夏威夷) under race conditions for the first time, Zac Purton is optimistic John Size’s crack galloper can make a strong return when resuming in the G2 Oriental Watch 60th Anniversary Sha Tin Trophy Handicap (1600m) on Sunday (17 October).

Joao Moreira has ridden Waikuku (夏威夷) in all of his 19 Hong Kong starts – for seven wins and six minor placings – but the mount has fallen to Purton on Sunday at Sha Tin with Moreira committed to Caspar Fownes’s BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m) winner Sky Darci (達心星).

Purton rode Waikuku (夏威夷) when the six-year-old cruised into second place behind Master Eight (八仟師) in a 1200m trial at Sha Tin on 8 October and is hopeful of a strong performance against class opposition.

It will be the former John Oxx-trained galloper’s first appearance since disappointing when a distant fifth behind Mighty Giant (高大威猛) in the G2 Chairman’s Trophy (1600m) at Sha Tin in April, when a subsequent endoscopic examination revealed a substantial amount of blood in the horse’s trachea.

The dual G1 winner has since trialled to the satisfaction of stewards.

“He’s been off for quite some time and John’s horses generally continue to improve as they go through their preparation,” Purton said.

“I thought he improved quite a bit from his first trial to his second trial, he actually surprised me how well he trialled last week. So, he’s ready to run a good race, I would think.

“It’s going to depend on the make-up of the race, of course, but I thought he went well enough in that trial to certainly be competitive on Sunday.”

Apart from Sky Darci (達心星), Waikuku’s (夏威夷) opposition on Sunday could include Southern Legend (川河尊駒), Ka Ying Star (嘉應之星), Glorious Dragon (龍鼓飛揚), Columbus County (時時有餘), Panfield (勇戰神駒), Tourbillon Diamond (飛輪閃耀) and Russian Emperor (將王).

Returning from a two-day ban, Purton will bid to extend his lead in the jockeys’ championship when he rides Francis Lui’s Lucky Patch (錶之未來) in the G2 Premier Bowl Handicap (1200m) on Sunday.

As with Waikuku (夏威夷), Purton is excited to be taking the reins on Lucky Patch (錶之未來).

“It’s a fairly intriguing race. You have the some young horses coming through there that want to put their hand up and stamp themselves and you’ve got some older horses there that want to make it hard for them,” Purton said, referring to emerging talents including unbeaten Courier Wonder (速遞奇兵), Super Wealthy (聚才), Naboo Attack (肥仔叻叻) and Sky Field (顯心星).

“I think it’s exciting because it’s the next batch of sprinters coming through. It will be nice to see them measuring themselves under handicap conditions before they go into set weight races, but I’m looking forward to it.”