Le Zonda (117lb) made a big impression near the end of last season, and Pierre Ng’s exciting Irish import makes his reappearance on Wednesday (16 September) in a high-quality HK$3.12 million Class 2 Shek O Handicap (1650m) at Happy Valley.

After soaring from last-to-first in both June and July, Le Zonda resumes bidding for a hat-trick tomorrow night under Vincent Ho, who last week slotted a treble and hopes there is plenty more to come from the four-year-old gelding this campaign.

Ho said: “He’s a quality horse. Hopefully, he keeps improving this season and we can get into some Group races. I have to sweat a lot, but it’s worth doing (the weight) for him.”

Assigned barrier four, Le Zonda faces Speed Dragon (135lb), Massive Sovereign (132lb), Sagacious Life (132lb), Helene Feeling (129lb), Huge Wave (129lb), Packing Angel (127lb), Silvery Breeze (127lb), Max Que (125lb), Californiatotality (123lb), Awesome Fluke (121lb) and Armor Golden Eagle (117lb).

“I was confident he could win again last season and, of course, with the handicap it helps him. Hopefully, his form is there and he should perform really well,” Ho said.

Formerly with Ger Lyons, Le Zonda won pre-import at the Curragh and Naas when he was known as Beckman. He has scored two wins in Hong Kong from eight starts, both times by making significant ground over 1800m at Happy Valley.

“He doesn’t need to settle that far back or last. We don’t have to be as far from a decent draw because he just needs to relax and switch off; he has a great turn of foot,” Ho said.

2024 Hong Kong Derby (2000m) winner Massive Sovereign and Sagacious Life are the only two horses in the card-closer yet to secure a win at Happy Valley.

Armor Golden Eagle made five starts at Happy Valley last season, winning three times, and links with Andrea Atzeni tomorrow evening.

“He likes the course and I’m looking forward to getting back on him. We always thought he was above average and it was just a matter of time. Physically, he was just a little bit weak and mentally, he was a little immature,” Atzeni said.

“It took time, but we knew the ability was there once he put it together. He showed that last season when he won his first race and it wasn’t a fluke because he’s won two since.”

Rosewood Fleetfoot (123lb) comes back in trip after victories over 2200m when he reunites with Karis Teetan in the Class 4 Big Wave Bay Handicap (1800m).

“He had a nice last season – those two wins were very good. I feel like he built a bit of confidence after his (first) win and it’s going to be interesting now over 1800 (metres).

“He has preferred longer distances, but he is a bit fresh after his holiday. I sat on him yesterday (Monday, 14 September) and he actually felt really nice,” Teetan said.

Dazzling Fit (135lb) makes his Happy Valley debut in the Class 3 Chung Hom Kok Handicap (1650m), after contesting last term’s Four-Year-Old Classic Series.

Trainer David Eustace, who has a win already this season, said: “I was keen to give him a good break after what was a pretty strenuous four-year-old campaign. He’s ‘prepped’ up really smoothly. I just thought as a five-year-old they need to be a bit more versatile and adaptable to tracks.”

Zac Purton partners Dazzling Fit from barrier one on Wednesday. The nine-time champion jockey was aboard Jimmy Ting’s Group 3 winner Little Paradise, who trialled on the dirt at Sha Tin this morning (Tuesday, 15 September) in 1m 11.21s over 1200m.

Wednesday’s (16 September) eight-race fixture at Happy Valley begins at 7.10pm with the Class 5 Hoi Mei Handicap (1000m).

By Declan Schuster

Photo: HKJC