The field of eight in the G3 Premier Cup Handicap (1400m) at Sha Tin on Sunday features the Tony Cruz-trained Winner’s Way (120lb) who provides a form link to this season’s Four-Year-Old Classic Series.

Tony Cruz’s charge, fifth behind Rapper Dragon in the Hong Kong Classic Mile, has won his last two starts, an impressive all-the-way Class 2 score over 1650m at Happy Valley and an authoritative course and distance Class 1 win six weeks ago, both under Zac Purton.

“He gets in with a nice weight, which is good and he’s got a nice draw, which is obviously going to help him as well,” Purton said. “He’s in good form so it’s the right time for him to be testing himself at this level and I’m sure he’s going to run well.”

 

Winner’s Way, four from nine in Hong Kong, made all in a recent 1200m all-weather barrier trial at Sha Tin, rolling home a half-length ahead of the closing Thewizardofoz, with Pakistan Star a close third.

“I thought his barrier trial was nice, he got out of the gates nice, he showed good speed, so there wasn’t anything not to like about it,” the former champion jockey said.

“With his style being a little bit of a free roller, it’s easier at this distance. I think free-rolling at a longer distance just stretches his stamina a bit - 1400 metres or a mile I think is right for him.”

And Purton is hopeful that the Starcraft gelding can find improvement into next season whatever Sunday’s result.

“He’s just starting to fulfil his real potential now,” he said. “He’s always shown he’s got something there and he was trying a couple of things wrong in his races but he’s starting to iron those out now and the success has come for him. Whatever he’s doing at the moment, you’d like to think he’s going to be a little bit better next season.”

The smart line-up also features last year’s winner and champion miler Sun Jewellery (125lb) from the Size camp, as well as the John Moore stable’s exciting three-year-old Magic Legend (118lb), seeking a fifth win at start seven. Moore will also saddle last year’s runner-up, Dashing Fellow (122lb), a seven-time course and distance winner.

The gutsy New Asia Sunrise (113lb) is set to line-up for trainer Me Tsui on the back of a Class 2 course and distance win last time, while stablemate Adventurer (113lb) seeks a first victory beyond 1000m. The smart and consistent Jolly Banner (113lb) will bid for a fifth course and distance triumph for trainer Ricky Yiu.