Hong Kong Racing Briefing as Sha Tin stages Saturday meeting

Joao Moreira remains clear at the top of the table. Karis Teetan has drawn level with Zac Purton in second after a midweek treble at Happy Valley, while leading apprentice Jerry Chau returns from suspension with nine rides and and a claim reduced from 10lb to 7lb.

The £300,000 Panasonic Cup at 8.05 is the feature on a ten-race card and all the action will be live on Sky Sports Racing.

Fortune seeking fame in sprint ranks

The list of horses who have charged down Sha Tin's five furlong track faster than Joyful Fortune is short and headed by former World Champion Sacred Kingdom, so Saturday's Panasonic Thermo Ventilator Handicap at 8.35 promises to be highly instructive as whether HK has a potential new ace.

Zac Purton is guarded, warning that impressive debut winners can falter once put under more pressure, but David Hall's gelding left subsequent winners for dead when stopping the clock in 55.07s in July, breaking the Class 4 record with loads in hand. Logic suggests he's much better than a Class 3 horse but at much longer odds it's also worth keeping an eye on Kurpany, who bolted up at Tipperary on his sole start for Andrew Slattery and has joined Caspar Fownes having shown plenty of promise for John Moore last term.

Fownes form continues as Sky scores again

Fownes continues to set a strong pace at the top of the trainers' table and Sky Darci is clearly still progressing fast judged on the way he powered clear of Class 3 rivals over 1200m at the Valley on Wednesday. Fownes is adamant there is even better to come when the four-year-old moves up in distance and is eyeing a Class 2 over 1400m at Sha Tin in December next.

Double-up Callan aiming to strike up the Band

Karis Teetan and Neil Callan took out five of the eight races at the Valley, the former sealing a treble on Namjong Plus and the latter completing his double on Lobo's Legend. Callan is looking forward to a good ride aboard the consistent Band Of Brothers in Saturday's Panasonic Cup, while reigning International Jockeys' Championship winner Teetan is looking forward to hearing what sort of visiting opposition he will face on December 9th when the final line-up for this year's IJC is announced next week.

Poon on the sidelines after Valley tumble

Popular homegrown rider Matthew Poon endured a nasty spill at the Valley and remains in hospital after a heavy fall from The Elites in the Sai Ying Pun Handicap. The 27-year-old is being treated for chest and rib injuries but is expected to make a full recovery along with his mount, though things could have been a lot worse for Frankie Lor's gelding but for the plastic rails that were fitted at the Valley this summer.

Maximus impresses in Valley trial session

Happy Valley played host to a morning barrier trial session on Friday with several familiar European imports in the spotlight. Royal Ascot third Berlin Tango shaped well in the first batch but not quite so well as Maximus, who won four from four as Chares in Europe.

The Ivawood colt had Berlin Tango behind when scoring for Jane Chapple-Hyam at Kempton in March and looks well worth keeping an eye on based on the way he swooped close home for Alexis Badel, while Master Montaro created a big impression with two wins Down Under and took the first step towards his HK debut with a promising effort later on in the session.