Trainer David Hall has been in fine form recently and is currently positioned just two wins shy of matching his best-ever campaign for wins in Hong Kong.

Hall saddled 40 winners through the 2007/08 season, while his current tally (38) has him within touching distance of bettering the mark as Hong Kong racing readies for its 84th out of 88 race meetings for the 2023/24 term this Monday night (3 July) at Sha Tin.

“We had a pretty good start this year and then probably dropped off just a little bit and then we had six winners in a week which brought it back to where it probably should be. Once again, I’d probably like to finish with more winners than seconds, but overall – pretty pleased,” Hall said.

Hall’s sizzling spell returned six wins from nine runners in mid-June, including one with Flying Ace (127lb), who faces his toughest test yet in the HK$2.64 million Class 2 Kau Sai Chau Handicap (1400m) with jockey Zac Purton aboard.

“He’s always promised that he could make it to Class 2. He had a tough barrier and we decided to go back, Zac navigated a really good run through the field and he was impressive last start,” Hall said.

Monday’s headlining contest also features Howdeepisyourlove (135lb), Sauvestre (132lb), Find My Love (122lb), Flaming Rabbit (125lb), Amazing Victory (120lb) and more.

Flying Ace won his fifth race in Hong Kong at his eight outing last start in impressive fashion, surging from the tail of the field to triumph hard-held by nearly three lengths – his third success in Class 3 which came on 18 June at Sha Tin.

“Now he gets his chance to see what he can do against the better horses. It’s a pretty strong line-up, but he’s in his best form he’s been in and he’s ready to fight,” Hall said.

The five-year-old by Swiss Ace has had a few setbacks in Hong Kong for Hall to carefully manage – lameness and surgery on his right knee.  

“He’s back out there, he’s had a few tough runs first-up and then second-up on the wet track as well, but he showed his true form last run. He’s in good shape and he’s ready to see how he can handle the step up,” Hall said.

Flying Ace is currently rated 88, while Hall’s other runners at Sha Tin on Monday are Just Great Two, Vamos, Aca Power, Speedstar and Nicholson Returns.

“He’s (Flying Ace) ready for that race now, it just depends on whether he can take the next step or not. He was impressive but this is a different class of horse, so we’ll see,” Hall said.

Hall has Let’s Do It, Northern Beast, Joyful Genius, Invincible Sage and Never Too Soon engaged at the season’s 83rd race meeting on Saturday (1 July) at Sha Tin.

Operating a remarkably reliable stable across 18 previous terms in Hong Kong, Hall has dipped below 30 wins six times. He is 16 wins away from 600 in the city after arriving for the 2004/05 season following a spree of Group 1 victories across Australia.

Monday’s (3 July) eight-race fixture at Sha Tin kicks off at 7.15pm with the Class 5 Waglan Island Handicap (1400m).