Tony Cruz believes The Golden Scenery (中華盛景) is destined for Group level after the Australian import’s win in the Class 2 Pok Fu Lam Country Park Handicap (1400m) under Luke Ferraris at Sha Tin on Saturday (25 June).

Notching his third victory in Hong Kong after winning twice in Australia when known as Dominant King for Steven O’Dea and Matthew Hoysted, The Golden Scenery (中華盛景) has risen from a mark of 69 to the cusp of a triple-digit mark since joining Cruz’s stable.

With eight top-three finishes from 13 starts in his new surroundings, The Golden Scenery (中華盛景) retains plenty of scope for improvement yet, according to Cruz.

“We haven’t seen the best of this horse yet, he’s the type of horse who can still improve,” Cruz said. “I believe he’s a Class 1 horse, maybe a Group 3 horse, but he’s still improving. Luke rode a perfect race on him. He’s very calm and I like this jockey. In future, I will definitely put him on more horses.”

Settling ninth behind stablemate Buddies (二郎)(126lb), The Golden Scenery (中華盛景) (130lb) speared through a late gap under Ferraris’ urging to deny Beauty Fit (一定美麗) (119lb) by a neck in 1m 21.46s. Beauty Live (美麗在線) (119lb) was third, a further length and a quarter away.

“All of his form shows that he likes to be ridden cold and we fell out of the gates and left him where he was happy. We had a lot of luck in running, the gaps opened when I needed them to and it was a smart win,” Ferraris said.

“He put them away nicely. He quickened superbly and he kept up the gallop under a fairly heavy weight. I don’t think too many winners came from off them today and he’s done that, which is impressive.”

In a continuation of a see-sawing battle, Zac Purton reclaimed the lead in the jockeys’ championship for the first time since 20 April with a treble, edging to a 129-127 margin over Joao Moreira with six meetings remaining in the season.

The Australian’s wins came aboard John Size’s Bundle Of Charm (魅力寶駒) in the Class 4 Ho Sheung Heung Road Handicap (1200m), Richard Gibson’s Blotting Paper (印水紙) in the Class 4 Tuen Mun Public Riding School Handicap (1650m, dirt) and Frankie Lor’s Superbella (西利哥) in the Class 3 Lei Yue Mun Park Handicap (2000m).

The title race lead has changed six times between Moreira and Purton so far this season and the Australian wasted little time in capitalising on Moreira’s absence on Saturday when he piloted Bundle Of Charm (魅力寶駒) (134lb) to a four and three-quarter length margin over Science Patch (錶之科學) and Young Horizon (競駿天下) to showcase rich talent.

Like Moreira, Purton is a four-time champion and expects this season’s battle to go down to the wire.

“It’s been a good day,” Purton said. “Unfortunately for Joao, he’s missed the meeting and most of Wednesday night (when the Brazilian was stood down after one ride because of health issues). It’s hot at this time of the year and health is more important than riding winners and the championship, really.

“He needed to take that time off and if he feels like he needs to take more, he’s got to do what’s right for him. But it obviously gave me an opportunity and most of my horses turned up – not all of them – so it’s been alright.”

Frankie Lor maintained a six-win buffer over Size with six meetings left in the season but was taking nothing for granted after Purton’s facile ride on Superbella (西利哥).

“I’m really trying hard to get my first championship, but we still have six meetings left so I have to try really hard,” Lor said. “Superbella (西利哥) was a good win. He had a good draw, good jockey and he relaxed today which was the difference.”

Michael Chang took training honours and completed a positive week by slotting a double with Golden Mission (金剛石) and So We Joy (無心睡眠) to take his season’s tally to 14 wins.

“Honestly, I’m always happy with my stable’s performance. I train a lot of slow horses and I’ve done the best I can. You can see I’ve had a lot of second and third placings (21 and 25, respectively),” he said. “It’s good to get a double.”

Golden Mission (金剛石) extended Chang’s productive spell and followed Family Folks’ (齊齊友福) victory on Wednesday night (22 June) with success in the Class 5 Chai Wan Road Handicap (1200m) under Matthew Chadwick.

So We Joy (無心睡眠) clinched the Class 3 Lung Mun Road Handicap (1650m, dirt) under Vincent Ho to provide Chang with a timely brace.

Manfred Man derived plenty of satisfaction from Indigenous Realm’s (新境界) win under Derek Leung in the Class 4 Hong Kong Riding For The Disabled Association Cup Handicap (1400m) because of the Brazen Beau gelding’s soundness issues.

A three-time winner in England for Ed Walker when known as Bold Suitor, Indigenous Realm (新境界) had been unplaced in all of his nine previous starts since arriving in Hong Kong.

“He’s gradually getting better because when he’s suffered swollen leg joints, so we had to plan to get him better and improve his performances,” Man said. “It was hard to plan because of his legs, but I’m very happy now with this win.”

First up since December, Nunchuks (雙節棍) made a triumphant return from a suspensory ligament injury under a calculating ride for Caspar Fownes to land the Class 4 Pok Fu Lam Public Riding School Handicap (1400m).

“For us trainers, when we bring horses back from problems and injuries, it’s painstaking – it’s a long run in, especially for owners,” Fownes said. “I said to the owners that the horse was really well and he was going to run a good race and to have something each-way on him because he is in great form.

“He’s got a fresh pair of legs coming in, he looked beautiful and he had a nice couple of trials coming in. He’s had his share of issues, if you go back and look at his history, there’s a lot there – but he’s done us proud.”

Ruan Maia and Dennis Yip combined with Cordyceps Two (蟲草老爺) to win the Class 4 Lei Yue Mun Public Riding School Handicap (1800m), impressing Maia in the process.

“I always knew he had the ability to run good and with the light weight (118lb) today that allowed me to be closer and to finish strongly. He gave me a nice feeling and a strong finish – big thanks to Dennis Yip for the opportunity,” Maia said.

Hong Kong racing continues at Happy Valley on Tuesday night (28 June).