David Eustace will turn to one of his yard’s emerging talents as he bids to build momentum and snap a frustrating spell when Hong Kong racing shifts to Happy Valley’s rare weekend meeting on Sunday (2 November).

Stuck on one win through 15 meetings of the 2025/26 campaign, Eustace, who picked up 36 winners during an excellent debut season in Hong Kong, has been left frustrated by a run of narrow defeats this term.

His best chance of climbing off the bottom of the trainers’ standings this Sunday lies with Colourful King (125lb), who will contest the HK$2.84 million Class 2 Guangzhou Handicap (1200m) on a ten-day turnaround, as he looks to go one better than the second he registered last time out.

“I’d have loved a bit more time (between runs), but we were forced to run here with the programme,” Eustace said. “Having said that, he’s pulled up great. We wouldn’t be going if we weren’t happy with him.”

Eustace’s handy four-year-old has won two of his seven outings in Hong Kong, and another two from five when he was known as Blue Renegade racing as a two-year-old in Australia. All four career wins have come over 1000 metres, and Eustace concedes the gelding will need to handle a step up in distance.

“He’s not a winner over 1200 (metres) at all,” Eustace noted. “I think the step up in trip will suit us. At least we know, with him in it and a couple of others, that there’ll be a strong tempo and that will help Colourful King.”

The Blue Point gelding is developing an interesting rivalry with Mark Newnham’s Youthful Spirits (124lb), whom he will face again on Sunday. The pair has filled the quinella on all three occasions they’ve clashed, with Colourful King leading the head-to-head 2-1, but it was Newnham’s six-year-old who edged him out at Happy Valley last week.

Eustace remains confident he can pick up a sought-after win on Sunday.

“He ran great from the back, and the winner (Youthful Spirits) put in an excellent performance with the low weight,” Eustace said. “So I couldn’t be happier with him, really.”

Meanwhile, Romantic Warrior was impressive in taking another step towards returning to action with a smooth barrier trial outing at Sha Tin on Friday morning (31 October).

Eyeing a record-extending fourth victory in the HK$40 million G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Cup (2000m) on 14 December, the Danny Shum-trained gelding stepped out under regular trial partner Hugh Bowman, who reported that the 10-time Group 1 winner was nearing his best as his comeback continues.

“He feels fantastic. He’s in a great mood – he loves his job,” Bowman said after guiding the seven-year-old to an easy win over 1200 metres on the dirt.

“He’s come back in good form – good condition. Although it was only 1200 metres, I let him use himself this morning without putting any pressure on him. He went along pretty well and felt good,” the Australian added.

“He’s the type of horse we all want to work with. He’s come back in as good form – if not better than this time last year.”

Romantic Warrior is set to return in the HK$5.35 million G2 BOCHK Jockey Club Cup (2000m) on 23 November.

Sunday’s (2 November) 10-race fixture at Happy Valley starts at 12.45pm with the Class 5 Dongguan Handicap (1200m).