Training honours went to Me Tsui at Sunday’s meeting, with the handler winning four of the seven dirt races on the card. It was Tsui’s second four-timer in his Hong Kong career and his first at Sha Tin.

“I expected our runners would perform well today but winning four races was really a pleasant surprise,” Tsui said after the wins to Sky Treasure, Ugly Warrior, Flying Godspell and Fight Hero. “I really have to thank my team for all the effort they put in and the work that has gone into these wins. I also want to thank my owners for their patience and trust.”

Tsui took the day’s highest-rated race, the Class 2 Nathan Handicap (1200m), with Fight Hero. The 20/1 shot charged late from near the rear under Umberto Rispoli to grab Size’s House Of Fun in the shadows of the post, with a nose the margin at the wire.

Trainer Me Tsui completes his four-timer for the day with the Umberto Rispoli-ridden Fight Hero (No. 9) in the Class 2 Nathan Handicap in Race 9.

“This is the winner that surprised me the most today,” Tsui said. “Full credit to Umberto, the horse jumped well beneath him. We had concerns beforehand that the horse could lag behind in the early stages, but luckily after he jumped well, the pace was very fast and it assisted him to come from behind in the straight.”

The day’s feature, the Class 3 Peninsula Golden Jubilee Challenge Cup Handicap (1650m), went to Peter Ho-trained Turin Pearl, with jockey Dylan Mo bringing up a running double after his victory on Flying Godspell. Also scoring a double was Vincent Ho, who won aboard Ugly Warrior and Diamond Dragon.

Sunday’s meeting was a prelude to Hong Kong’s biggest week of racing. Wednesday night (6 December) features the LONGINES International Jockeys Championship at Happy Valley, before next Sunday’s (10 December) LONGINES Hong Kong International Races at Sha Tin.