Fight Hero has made his name as a late-dashing stalwart of Sha Tin’s all-weather circuit and the horse that so nearly gave Hong Kong a big Korean score in September returns to his own patch for a midweek pre-Christmas dirt track treat.

The French import has achieved all five of his Hong Kong wins over the course and distance of Wednesday night’s feature contest, the Class 2 Penfold Park Handicap (1200m).

Jockey Derek Leung was in the plate for two of those victories. He was also the man driving hard in Seoul when the seven-year-old powered through a gutsy stretch run to place a head second to Japan’s Moanin in the KOR G1 Korea Sprint (1200m). Fight Hero has finished down the field in a 1400m turf contest at Sha Tin since then, but warmed up for this assignment in late November when first past the post in a course and distance barrier trial. 

“There are not many options for him on the dirt in this class, so this is his target,” Leung said.

Trainer Me Tsui’s charge will have to overcome top-weight of 133lb and barrier 11 in the 12-runner field, but Leung is expecting his mount to run his usual game race. Fight Hero has placed top four in 14 of his 19 races on dirt or sand.

“He always tries hard on the all-weather, he loves it, but it just depends how the track is running because he’s a hold-up horse and sometimes he runs a fast last section but still can’t catch them – it depends on how the race is run. We just want a good pace for him,” Leung said.

And the rider believes the trip overseas might have helped the Footstepsinthesand gelding.

“In Korea he gave me a really good feel,” he said, “in Hong Kong he was always a bit nervous but in Korea he was relaxed and gave me what he had. Since he has come back, in his last trial, he felt much more relaxed – the trial was slow and he was able to go forward and he did it very well.”

Tsui is running to an 18% win strike rate in 1200m races on the all-weather this term, while 10 of his 17 runners at that track and trip have finished in the top three.

First-up Mission

While Fight Hero is an old hand at dirt track racing, at the opposite end of the handicap Mission Tycoon (113lb) is set to have his first race on the surface at his first start this term.

The Frankie Lor-trained four-year-old won his only two races in Australia pre-import and caught the eye last term when winning a 1200m turf race at Sha Tin on his second of four outings.   

Joao Moreira was in the plate for each of those Sha Tin contests but Karis Teetan takes the reins this time. The Mauritian has ridden the Written Tycoon gelding in two trials this season, latterly on 30 November when stretching out ahead of a smart batch that included the likes of Nothingilikemore and Tigre Du Terre.  

“He’s a very nice horse and he’s been trialling very good on the surface. It’s a good decision of Frankie to run him on the all-weather,” Teetan said. “He’s fit and well, he’s ready for the run.

“It would suit him if they go off pretty fast, he would like that. He showed in the trial that he can finish off. He’s big and strong so I think wherever he can be he’ll be comfortable and travelling and I’m pretty sure he’ll let down in the straight.”

The field also features the John Size-trained Gunnison (122lb) – runner-up at the course and distance last time – and Calculation (130lb), a two-time course winner at 1650m.

The Manfred Man-trained Big Time Baby (120lb) was too good for Gunnison in the aforementioned contest, while the Francis Lui-trained Jumbo Luck (132lb) has his first all-weather start having placed a close second to Wishful Thinker over 1000m at Sha Tin last time.

Perpetual Treasure (115lb) is a six-time course and distance winner for trainer Benno Yung.

Wednesday’s action in the New Territories starts at 7.15pm with the Class 5 Sha Tin Park Handicap (1650m).