Bidding to extend a stunning opening to the 2023/24 season, Pierre Ng will lay siege to two Bank of China (Hong Kong) Race Day features – the HK$5.35 million G2 BOCHK Private Banking Jockey Club Sprint (1200m)and the HK$5.35 G2 BOCHK Jockey Club Cup (2000m) – at Sha Tin on Sunday (19 November) with his three highest-rated horses.

Leading the Hong Kong trainers’ championship with 22 wins – seven more than nearest pursuer Francis Lui (15) – Ng will saddle Super Wealthy (rated 115) and Duke Wai (113) in the G2 BOCHK Private Banking Jockey Club Sprint before unleashing veteran Glorious Dragon (110) in the G2 BOCHK Jockey Club Cup.

On trial for starts in the HK$118 million LONGINES Hong Kong International Races, the trio is shaping well for Ng who, after only 19 meetings this season, is more than half way to the 41 wins he produced in 2022/23, his debut season as a trainer.

Duke Wai (123lb) will be ridden by Andrea Atzeni at the weekend and, according to Ng, the veteran is primed to run well against Lucky Sweynesse (128lb), Wellington (128lb), Sight Success (123lb), Super Wealthy (123lb), Victor The Winner (123lb) and Fantastic Treasure (123lb).

“Duke Wai is brilliant, he trialled well last week. He’s still looking well and hopefully he can achieve more. He trialled really well and I thought he could manage to run well,” Ng said.

Super Wealthy will debut for Ng under Luke Ferraris after twice winning the G3 National Day Cup Handicap (1000m) for David Hayes. Resuming, Super Wealthy will start from barrier six.

“Super Wealthy is also doing well. He had problems six months ago and we’ve given him time. We spent time to bring him up to form and he’s had three trials now and we’re just looking for a good run and hopefully he can do something,” Ng said of the gelding’s Conghua-based preparation.

Glorious Dragon has also trialled three times at Conghua as the stalwart prepares to face Hong Kong Champion Stayer Russian Emperor (128lb), Senor Toba (123lb), Money Catcher (123lb), Five G Patch (123lb), Straight Arron (123lb), Sword Point (123lb), La City Blanche (123lb) and Nimble Nimbus (123lb) in the G2 BOCHK Jockey Club Cup (2000m).

“He’s been through a lot – injuries, X-rays, anything you can imagine. We’ve managed to get him sound and he’s had three trials,” Ng said.

“I think he just loves Conghua and hopefully he can get into the top three this week. We’ll see how he goes. If he runs a nice race, we can send him to a Group 1 over 2000m – if not, we can send him to the (G3) January Cup (Handicap) at Happy Valley (on 10 January).”

The HK$5.35 million G2 BOCHK Private Wealth Jockey Club Mile (1600m) also features on Sunday (19 November), when California Spangle (128lb), Beauty Joy (123lb), Healthy Happy (123lb), Voyage Bubble (123lb) and Beauty Eternal (123lb) clash.

Sunday’s (19 November) Bank of China (Hong Kong) Race Day features 11 races, starting with the Class 4 BOCHK Cross-border Services Handicap (1200m) at 12.30pm.