Luke Ferraris reunites with David Eustace-trained Dazzling Fit in the HK$13 million Hong Kong Classic Cup (1800m) at Sha Tin on Sunday (1 March) and believes the galloper can be competitive despite being one of the lowest-rated entries in the field.

A third-place finish in a Class 3 1800m contest under Zac Purton this month, raising Dazzling Fit’s rating to 76, was enough to secure a place in Sunday’s field. That day, he finished half a length behind the winner, to whom he gave 11 pounds, BMW Hong Kong Derby prospect Flow Water Flow.

“He’s a nice horse and his lead-up has been pretty good,” Ferraris said. “He’s just going to need a race run to suit. He’s obviously still maturing and not the final product yet, but he’s given every sort of sign that he’s going to be a nice horse.”

The South African jockey, who partnered Akashvani to eighth place in the first leg of the Four-Year-Old Classic Series, the Hong Kong Classic Mile (1600m), will vacate the saddle of David Hayes’ charge to reunite with Dazzling Fit.

Despite enduring a mixed 2025/26 campaign so far, one highlight for Dazzling Fit was a short-head 1600m victory over Tony Cruz’s Beauty Bolt in November last year. The James McDonald-ridden Beauty Bolt went on to claim third place in the Hong Kong Classic Mile and is likely to be one of the market leaders on Sunday.

Ferraris enjoyed a productive three-year-old campaign with Dazzling Fit last season, piloting him to two wins, a second and a third from five runs.

He hasn’t ridden the gelding since October last year, but is happy to be partnering the New Zealand-bred again as he seeks a Hong Kong Classic Cup win to go alongside the Hong Kong Classic Mile title he claimed last season with My Wish.

“He’s pretty easy to ride,” Ferraris said of Dazzling Fit. “He can get fired up a little bit, but he’s got a great action, and a relatively good temperament. So he’s not hard to work with.”

While Dazzling Fit’s best form has come at 1400m and 1600m, Ferraris said he believes the son of Ribchester can handle the step up in distance on Sunday.

“I think he’ll appreciate the 1800 (metres). If there can be a little bit of pace on just to help him get into a rhythm and settle, he’s got a big action on him and you want to see him use it. If he can get those things to suit, then, hopefully, he’s in with a shout,” he added.

The Four-Year-Old Classic Series culminates in the 149th running of the blue riband HK$26 million BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m) at Sha Tin on 22 March.

Sunday’s (1 March) 11-race fixture at Sha Tin starts at 12.30pm with the Class 4 Citi Wealth Handicap (1800m). The HK$13 million Hong Kong Classic Cup (1800m) jumps at 4.45pm, while the meeting also features the HK$13 million G1 Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup (2000m), which will be run at 3.35pm.