Brenton Avdulla struck a confident tone when discussing the prospects of his mount, Bustling City, in Sunday’s (11 October) Class 3 Lau Fau Shan Handicap (1200m, dirt) as the four-year-old seeks a hat-trick for trainer David Hayes.

A switch to the dirt has brought an uptick in the chestnut’s fortunes, winning his last two runs on Sha Tin’s all-weather by a combined 11 and a half lengths, and Avdulla expects Bustling City (131lb) to build on his seven-length demolition of a smart field on his Class 3 debut last month.

“He won well, didn’t he? I’m not surprised that he won, but it’s probably surprising the way he’s done it. He’s a horse who, since he’s been switched over to the all-weather, he’s found a new gear and both wins have been solid,” Avdulla said. “I’m looking forward to seeing what he can do on the weekend.”

Those two eye-catching victories build on a consistent three-year-old campaign on turf, when he secured two seconds and a third-place finish on the Sha Tin turf. And Avdulla said it was worth striking while the iron was hot given his sizzling form.

“It’s only a two-week turnaround. So, the perfect race is there for him to go back again, and you have got to take these chances as much as you can on the all-weather,” he added.

The Australian also predicted a hot pace if his front-running Starspangledbanner gelding is challenged for the lead. Seven-pound claimer Britney Wong rides Lucy In The Sky (135lb), another galloper who usually prefers to set the tone over 1200 metres.

“He doesn’t need any encouragement to go faster,” Avdulla said. “It’s all about trying to harness him. He’s not the easiest, but he seems to be going well.

“If Britney decides to try and take me on, I’m tipping we will be two seconds inside standard (time). My horse is a fast horse, we’ll be galloping. Pace is his best asset. He’s drawn low (two) inside (Lucy In The Sky), but if he steps cleanly, I’m tipping he’ll be leading; then hopefully he can keep running for me.”

David Eustace hopes Titan Pegasus can earn his way into Four-Year-Old Classic Series contention.

David Eustace hopes Titan Pegasus can earn his way into Four-Year-Old Classic Series contention.

Another smart four-year-old appearing on Sunday is David Eustace’s Titan Pegasus. A two-time winner in Australia pre-import, including a victory in the G3 Blue Diamond Prelude (1100m) where he beat the eventual Blue Diamond winner Devil Night, the Deep Field gelding makes his seasonal bow in the Class 3 Shui Pin Wai Handicap (1400m).

Titan Pegasus (131lb), who will be ridden for the first time by Jerry Chau, flew into a late-charging third place in the final race of his three-year-old season last term on his debut over 1400m, and Eustace believes the 73-rated galloper will get the Hong Kong Classic Mile (1600m) distance if he can improve sufficiently before the Classic Series campaign begins.

“I hope so, yeah,” said Eustace of Titan Pegasus’ chances of becoming a Four-Year-Old Classic Series contender. “Naturally, they’re trained for it, and they’ve then got to prove it. He’s got to win. He’s got to get his rating up, but that’s certainly the plan.

“I think he’ll get a mile, no problem. He ran well at 1400 (metres), finding the line. And, hopefully, he does handle 1600, which I think he will.”

Sunday’s (11 October) 11-race fixture at Sha Tin starts at 12.30pm with the Class 5 Hung Shui Kiu Handicap (1200m).