As he heads into his fourth season as a trainer, Jimmy Ting Koon-ho would like to do something he’s yet to achieve – train more winners in the current campaign than the previous.

Ting has been as solid as a rock since beginning his training career in 2018-19 and while it’s far from an alarming slide, he has seen his output decrease gradually each year – from 38 in his debut campaign, to 35 in 2019-20 and finally 31 last term.

“I always hope to be better than last season but it’s not easy. I have some good horses coming through so hopefully I can get more winners this season,” Ting said.

Ting believes his march to 32 victories, and hopefully beyond, can begin at Sha Tin on Sunday, where he saddles up a couple of smart gallopers among his seven runners.

“I’ve got a few that have a chance and I hope I get some winners, otherwise I’ll leave the races with a headache,” he laughed.

Ting was quick to anoint his best hope of a trip to the winner’s circle this weekend – Gluck Racer in the Class Three Diamond Hill Handicap (1,200m).

Can Blake Shinn break the early-season stranglehold of Joao Moreira, Zac Purton and Karis Teetan?

“He is my best chance, he’s got a good draw just like last time when he won and I think he can still win in Class Three. I think at the moment the rating is good for him,” Ting said of the four-year-old, who jumps from gate one.

Gluck Racer made a winning debut for Ting in July after one victory from four starts for Manfred Man Ka-leung and he strikes an open field as he steps up in class, with Chad Schofield taking the reins.

Fellow last-start winners Jolly Good Heart and Big Fortune line up, while Ima Single Man is looking to carry over his strong form after a win and a second to end last season.

Elsewhere on the card, Ting is hoping consistent gelding The Anomaly can feature in the finish of the Class Four Ngau Tau Kok Handicap, while he expects My Sugar and Gold Comet to be better for their runs.

My Sugar had his impressive 2020-21 campaign cut short by injury, with the son of Deep Field requiring surgery to remove fragments of his left front fetlock after two wins and three placings from his five starts.

The five-year-old was last seen when saluting in February and Ting just hopes his charge comes through the Class Three Kwun Tong Handicap (1,400m) unscathed.

“After the surgery he rested for a long time and now the form is OK, but in this race there are too many fast horses so I think it will be difficult for him. Maybe after this race he can win,” said a matter-of-fact Ting.

Gold Comet set tongues wagging when winning by nine lengths over the extended dirt mile under Joao Moreira in May but, after being hit with a 14-point ratings hike, he struggled at his next run.

Connections opted to move Gold Comet from Tony Millard to Ting late last season and his new handler knows the six furlongs of the Class Three Kowloon Bay Handicap on the all-weather track won’t allow him to show his best.

“He likes the dirt but the distance is a little bit short for him, this run is just to see how he is going and hopefully he gets some pace. It will be difficult for him – it’s too short and the draw is not so good,” Ting said.