Graham Cunningham: Moreira and Fownes in form as HKIR preparation heats up

Hong Kong's movers and shakers have been, well, moving and shaking this week.

Leading trainer Caspar Fownes fired in a Happy Valley double to reach 500 career winners at the city track. Leading rider Joao Moreira sealed a treble to end the night with 42 winners worth almost £5m in prize-money. The Magic Man's arch rival Zac Purton hit back with a treble of his own and Alexis Badel and Neil Callan were confirmed as the last two names for next month's International Jockeys' Challenge. Potential stars top the menu at Sha Tin this Sunday - including some familiar imports - and all the action from a ten-race Sunday morning card will be live on Sky Sports Racing.

Sunday's Sha Tin card

Euros on parade in Chevalier Cup

Fast Most Furious: leads home the field in last year's Chevalier Cup

Sunday's Chevalier Cup (8.10am) at Sha Tin features four Europeans who have done very nicely since arriving in Hong Kong.

Fast Most Furious won this race last year and has collected almost £1m in prize money from five wins, while all-weather specialist Kings Shield has pocketed £400,000 and Preciousship and Glorious Dragon have collected over £1 million between them.

Aussie handler David Hall is hoping Fast Most Furious can do enough to earn a crack at Golden Sixty in the Hong Kong Mile but progressive youngsters tend to be dangerous in handicaps wherever you are in the world and Sunday's race features two in Sky Darci and Lucky Express.

Express on right track for mile debut

Sky Darci makes the unusual leap straight from Class 3 to Class 1 after two impressive Happy Valley wins over six furlongs and Moreira feels he can handle the step up to a mile.

"What makes me feel confident about it is the way he did it last time – from where he placed himself and how he travelled and finished off the race," the Brazilian said.

Lucky Express, on the other hand, is already proven at Class 1 level and John Size's Toronado gelding looks one to keep a close eye on after staying on powerfully to chase home the reopposing Buddies over seven furlongs here two weeks ago.

Lucky Express (purple and yellow silks): looking to get the better of Buddies after chasing him home at this track two weeks ago

A steady pace left Lucky Express poorly placed as Buddies dictated that day. It will come as a big surprise if he doesn't beat that rival this time and the handicapper looks to have been kind in leaving him on the same rating for his first attempt at this trip.

Shadow and Tango embark on Derby trail

It would be stretching things to suggest that Sunday's finale (9.50) is a strong punting race but, for those with an eye on possible 2021 Derby hopes, it is a must-see affair.

Former Richard Hannon winner Temple of Heaven is in fine form with 7lb claimer Jerry Chau onboard for the first time, while Berlin Tango has drawn the outside gate for his Hong Kong bow, but was very smart for Andrew Balding and has trialled strongly at Happy Valley.

However, David Hayes' recent recruit Shadow Hero, who wasn't far behind the best three-year-olds in Australia, could be the most interesting newcomer of all. He will need to be a good horse to defy a mark of 92 on his Hong Kong debut, but he has trialled like one and Hayes is optimistic.

"I'm hoping that he can be one of the main Hong Kong Derby contenders," he said. "He'll probably be better on International Day and while I'm expecting a good run on Sunday, I'm expecting a better run at his second one in a couple of weeks.”

Magic Man missing Mum as fourth wave continues

The current fourth wave of Covid-19 infections in Hong Kong looks set to thwart hopes of a significant attendance for International Race day and the racing bubble that has kept the sport rolling through 2020 remains in force.

Joao Moreira is one of several overseas stars who have been unable to visit relatives for upwards of a year now and the Magic Man is clearly looking forward to the post-vaccine day when travel returns to normal.

"I do have relatives in Brazil that have tested positive but all of them have been able to cope with it and come through," he said. "There's no doubt that Brazil is the place I want to go next just to give a big hug and kiss to my mum, who I miss so much."

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Bets can be placed into HK pools with the Tote, Coral and Ladbrokes. The first race at Sha Tin on Wednesday is at 4.45am