Trainer Pierre Ng is hopeful Apache Pass can end an exasperating sequence with victory in Wednesday night’s (10 May) HK$2.9 million Class 2 Sha Tin Heights Handicap (1650m) at Sha Tin, the highlight of the midweek fixture’s eight-race all-dirt programme.

“He’s going well and he has been since the start of the season. He has been a bit unlucky with two second placings this season. We’ve freshened him up, given him two trials and Zac (Purton) is aboard this time. Hopefully he can get a winner for us,” Ng said.

By War Chant, Apache Pass is yet to score this campaign but has gone close – finishing under a length away from winning four times as he chases a fourth victory in Hong Kong.

“This is a big one for him – 1650 metres is his best distance. It might be his last one and then we’ll give him a spell and see where we go next season,” Ng said.

Apache Pass (127lb) faces a string of the city’s sharpest dirt course performers in a sizzling finale, including the US-bred Chancheng Prince (130lb), Handsome Twelve (124lb), Hava Nageela (120lb) and more.

“He’s very consistent on the dirt track. The race looks to have good pace which is very suitable for him,” Ng said.

The 91-rater will break from gate nine under Zac Purton. The Australian rider has 129 wins this term to lead the standings as he pursues a sixth riding title in Hong Kong.

Frankie Lor is this season’s leading trainer on the dirt course with an unmatched 11 wins and he is seeking a hat-trick of victories with Hava Nageela tomorrow night.

“He’s in good form. He has already won twice on the dirt and he keeps improving, also he can go a little bit further, I think, 1800 metres to 2000 metres,” Lor said.

Initially entered to run in the 2023 BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m), the Irish-bred failed to boost his rating early doors but has since found his groove on the Sha Tin dirt.

“I entered him for the Hong Kong Derby but his rating was too low. I put Zac (Purton) on twice – the first time over 1600 metres he had an outside gate (12) and he was only beaten by around a length, the second start over 1800 metres – he jumped slowly and came strong from behind,” Lor said.

Lor is positioned 10 wins behind the championship-leading John Size (49-59) on the trainers’ standings ahead of the season’s 69th fixture of 88. Hava Nageela leads a three-pronged assault for Lor on the feature race with Everyone’s Delight (129lb) and True Legend (126lb) also engaged.

Galaxy Witness (122lb) finished 10th in March’s BMW Hong Kong Derby and he returns for his second start on dirt in the same contest. The Star Witness gelding placed third in his one and only try on the surface under race conditions last December.

Ng has 32 wins this term and he has Mark The Moment bidding for breakthrough success in the Class 3 Eagle’s Nest Handicap (1200m).

“He is going well, he’s been unlucky three times with three seconds. He’s a tricky horse to get in front, this time we have Ellis Wong and 10 pounds coming off. We’ll see if that can help him by carrying a light weight,” Ng said.

The Snitzel gelding boasts four placings from seven starts, proving immensely versatile and consistent on both turf and dirt throughout his first season in Hong Kong.

“10 pounds is huge, towards the end of the season it is a big help,” Ng said.

Deep Field leads this season’s sire standings on dirt with 11 wins. More Than Ready is second with four wins, while I Am Invincible, Better Than Ready, Battle Paint and The Factor each have three.

Wednesday’s (10 May) eight-race all-dirt fixture at Sha Tin kicks off at 7.15pm with the Class 5 Tate’s Cairn Handicap (1200m).