Pakistan Star is on track for the G1 Audemars Piguet Queen Elizabeth II Cup (2000m) at Sha Tin in nine days’ time after this morning (Friday, 20 April) completing a barrier trial to the satisfaction of the Stewards. But even then, the mercurial galloper couldn’t help but ensure a hint of drama.

Tony Cruz’s charge tailed himself off in the G2 Chairman’s Trophy (1600m) last time out before charging home to finish a fine fourth, and so was required to pass today’s 1600m turf trial before being permitted to race again. The German-bred famously stopped a short distance into last season’s G3 Premier Plate Handicap (1800m).

Pakistan Star did not repeat his past antics as he broke smartly and travelled easily on the pace under first-time partner Tommy Berry. All appeared to be straightforward until the Shamardal five-year-old jinked and slowed his gait momentarily in the home straight before quickening up for a strong finish.

“He jumped really quick and showed nice speed,” Berry said. “I didn’t really want to grab hold of him, I just wanted to keep him happy because every time he’s been grabbed hold of that’s when he’s sort of done his antics.

“He had a little bit of a look around and shied at something at the top of the straight but when the rest of the field came up to him he went on with it again. It’s not the end of the world, what he did, and it’s very mild compared to what he’s done in the past.

“He dodged right a little bit and just eased up but as quick as he eased up he got going again, so it was a one, two second thing.”

The Australian hoop will not be in the plate come Champions Day but was clearly impressed with Pakistan Star’s quality.

“To me, he’s in a great frame of mind,” he said. “I will say he’s an incredible athlete. It felt like he was going half-pace the whole way round and he was obviously running some fast sectionals.

“For a horse to sort of ease up to what he did and then to go again, he’s got incredible acceleration. He does it so easy.”

Cruz, too, was pleased with owner Kerm Din’s still unfulfilled talent. Pakistan Star passed the post fifth in the 13-runner batch, a length and a quarter behind G1 Champions Mile contender Seasons Bloom, who clocked 1m 35.60s.

“I think it’s just that he’s never been in front before,” the trainer said of Pakistan Star’s hesitation in the stretch. “But when horses came upside him, boy, he changed gears and he started to go again. So I’m very happy with that.

“He was great behind the gates, he went in very easily and was very well-behaved. He jumped away very fast; he’s never shown that much speed in his life before, he’d never been in front in any barrier trial or race before.”

The trainer has called on the gelding’s past partner Silvestre de Sousa to fly in for the race a week on Sunday – de Sousa guided Pakistan Star to second in last season’s APQEII Cup – and confirmed that the usual race pattern will be employed.

“Race day, he will be back to being ridden from behind. Time Warp will be in front, Pakistan Star will be back. Silvestre is coming to ride,” he said.

Joao Moreira guided BMW Hong Kong Derby hero Ping Hai Star through to an easy neck second. Fellow APQEII Cup entrants Dinozzo and Gold Mount ran home in sixth and eighth.

In the morning’s fourth and final trial, John Size sent out four of his five G1 Chairman’s Sprint Prize (1200m) contenders and it was the least experienced of the lot that caught the eye ahead of Champions Day. Ivictory ran home ahead of the rest in the 1050m dirt track heat in 59.86s.

Beat The Clock was a length away in second with Mr Stunning an easy fourth and Thewizardofoz fifth.

Zac Purton was atop the 107-rated galloper, a winner in Class 2 last start, and will be in the plate on Champions Day.

“He felt nice in his trial this morning,” Purton said. “He’s well out of the ratings, which is always a concern, but he’s lightly-raced, he’s a young horse and he’s still got it all ahead of him so you don’t know what rating he’s going to get to eventually.

“Whether it’s all coming a little bit quick for him, or whether he can handle it, we’ll find out next week. But it’s a race where there’s not a standout in it – he certainly deserves to be in the race ad I’m looking forward to riding him.”

Champions Day on 29 April features the HK$24 million G1 APQEII Cup, HK$18 million G1 Champions Mile and HK$16 million G1 Chairman’s Sprint Prize.