Keith Yeung heads into Wednesday’s (20 November) nine-race card at Happy Valley in the hope of securing a third consecutive win aboard Hardly Swears (116lb) in the Class 3 Australian Turf Club Trophy Handicap (1200m). 

The Jimmy Ting-trained five-year-old scored first-up this season at 64/1 at the Valley over 1000m and surprised Yeung in the process, before stepping up to 1200m and saluting again, although that time as 5.6 third-favourite.

“The first race he won was a surprise, we knew he was a nice horse but we just thought the 1000 (metres) was going to be too short for him, but we got a perfect run in the race and he showed his ability,” Yeung said.

 “The second win we expected – he showed that he was a promising horse then and now he steps up to Class 3, which is tough but luckily we have a good barrier (2) which is going to be a big help for him.”

Yeung, who has four rides on the night, suggested that the Australian-bred, who has only three career starts on the board, is not straightforward either in training or on race day.

“He’s not an easy ride in the morning as he pulls pretty hard and he hangs in pretty bad, so he gives me a bit of a hard time but he’s a nice horse,” he said.

Hardly Swears makes the step up to Class 3 as he bids to become the first horse to win three consecutive races this season – Aurora Pegasus could also make it a hat-trick for the term when he goes in the night’s finale. Yeung feels the race distance is still on the sharp side for his mount.

“The reason he is winning at 1200 (metres) is because he has the class and he tries really hard, so now he’s stepping up to Class 3 he will need a bit more to overcome the distance. I think he wants a further distance,” he said.

Ting bought the son of All Too Hard out of the 2017 Ready 2 Race Sale at Oaklands Junction, Australia.

Moore turns to De Sousa

Silvestre de Sousa was back riding in Hong Kong on Sunday, at the start of another short-term contract, and the Brazilian ace secured his first win aboard the Tony Millard-trained Gift Of Lifeline.

“Tony has been very good to me – I rode quite a few winners for him last year and Mr (John) Moore – it’s nice to come back and they still have faith in you to put you up – I just hope I can get a winner for them again,” the three-time British champion said.

De Sousa has a book of six rides at Happy Valley and will partner Moore’s only runner on the nine-race card, Sunny Boy (117lb), in the Class 2 Hydrangea Handicap (1000m).

“It’s nice to be back, I feel like I’m kind of a local jockey now – it’s my fourth time now and I love it here,” De Sousa said.

Moore is pleased to have De Sousa’s talent back on the Hong Kong circuit and did not hesitate in handing him the mount aboard the speedy Star Witness gelding.

“The strength of De Sousa and the fact that he’s drawn well and trained well coming into this – I think he’ll be right there in the finish,” Moore said.

Sunny Boy has had issues, which have tempered his progress, and was withdrawn ahead of an intended start last month due to lameness.

 “He’s always had some soundness issues which we have to manage but 1000 metres is ideal – it will suit him because he is an on-pace runner with a high cruising speed. He’s drawn a good gate not like the start before,” Moore said.

De Sousa has had his own injury woes this year. He suffered a fall at Chelmsford in August, returning to action in time to taste G1 success aboard Donjuan Triumphant in the British Champion Sprint Stakes on Champion’s Day at Ascot in October.

“Everything is spot on health-wise, my fitness is very good – I feel good, I feel 100%,” De Sousa said.

Sunny Boy will face 11 opponents, including Saul’s Special (133lb), Yee Cheong Baby (130lb), Tornado Twist (125lb), Refined Treasure (123lb) and last-start 50/1 winner Speedy King (130lb), who reunites with Alberto Sanna.

“It was a great run around the rail, I drew well and I’ve drawn well again, though last time was 1200 (metres) he’s a tough horse and he fights to the line,” Sanna said of that long-odds success.

Wednesday’s nine-race card commences at 6.45pm with the Class 5 Aster Handicap (1650m).