Pierre Ng is confident Sagacious Life (130lb) can propel his advance towards the HK$52 million Four-Year-Old Classic Series when the trainer’s highest-rated prospect lines up in Sunday’s (4 January) HK$3.12 million Class 2 Leighton Handicap (1600m) at Sha Tin.

A first-up winner in Hong Kong after arriving from Brazil as a Group 1 triumphant, the Leslie Lui-owned Sagacious Life makes his third start after finishing an unlucky sixth on 30 November, when he was briefly blocked at a crucial stage in the home straight.   

Ng said: “This weekend will be his third run over a mile. Zac (Purton) trialled him last week (Monday, 22 December) and he went pretty well. He liked the horse and he thinks he’s in good form, so hopefully he can add some more (rating) points on Sunday.

“He’s a very handy horse. He can just jump and be with them behind the pace, and if they go slow then he can be a little bit closer. But he is fit and well after the trial.”

The Four-Year-Old Classic Series begins on 1 February with the HK$13 million Hong Kong Classic Mile (1600m) – where Sagacious Life is virtually assured a run on a rating of 90 – and is trailed by the HK$13 million Hong Kong Classic Cup (1800m) on 1 March before the 149th HK$26 million BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m) on 22 March. 

Leading rider Zac Purton partners Sagacious Life this weekend from barrier three. Raced as Navio Fantasma pre-import, the chestnut won four races in Brazil, led by success in the G1 Derby Paulista (2400m) at Cidade Jardim by over four lengths in November, 2024.

“He was a bit unlucky last start. He didn’t quite get a clear run, but he still ran well and finished off after being held up. He’s pulled up very well, so we’ll just keep managing him; keeping him fit and healthy,” Ng said. “He’ll go to the Classic Mile, the Classic Cup and then the Derby.”

Ng has trained over 160 winners in Hong Kong. He is the son of former trainer Peter Ng, winner of the 1990 Hong Kong Derby with Reliable Source, who also accumulated three Hong Kong Horse of the Year titles: Mystic (1984/85) and Quicken Away (1988/89 & 1989/90). 

The 42-year-old also saddles Group 1 winner Victor The Winner (125lb) in the HK$4.2 million G3 Bauhinia Sprint Trophy Handicap (1000m). The seven-year-old gelding has not won since his success in the 2024 HK$13 million G1 Centenary Sprint Cup (1200m).

“He needs to pick up his form a little bit. He’ll be racing this Sunday and we’ll see how he goes as we plan for his next run. He’ll definitely improve after this weekend,” Ng said.

Glaciated won his first race on 20 December at Sha Tin and the son of Frosted features in the second section of the Class 4 Tai Mong Tsai Handicap (1200m, dirt) with jockey Maxime Guyon up.

Ng said: “He runs very well on the dirt. We put him on the turf as a run between races and he won that, so hopefully he can win again this Sunday.”  

Chris So has 14 wins this season and fields Four-Year-Old Classic Series prospect Top Dragon (121lb) in the Leighton Handicap with jockey Andrea Atzeni engaged. The 81-rated son of Pierata is a triple winner over 1400m and rises to 1600m for the first time.  

So said: “I think it’s a big test for him stepping up in distance. I think the horse is handy and that he should handle the mile, but it’s a good test.

“He has a light weight, and I hope he can run a good race. He’s done very well, even as a three-year-old he was performing well and this year he has improved a lot. It’ll be very competitive – there’s a lot of good horses in this race.”

Sunday’s (4 January) 11-race fixture at Sha Tin commences at 12.30pm with the Class 5 Tai Lam Handicap (1400m).