This season has been something of a roller-coaster ride for trainer Jimmy Ting Koon-ho.

With 14 winners by the end of October, Ting was riding the crest of a wave and leading the trainers’ championship but his momentum has slowed with just six victories since and the trainer believes some of his runners are victims of their own success.

“The ratings are too high now for some of the horses and the new ones are not yet coming up,” Ting said. “I think that towards the end of the season, I’ll get some more winners.”

Ting may not have to wait too long to grace the winner’s enclosure again as he has a hatful of runners at Sha Tin on Saturday, spearheaded by one of his stable stars.

My Sugar returned from a season-ending injury in 2021 at the top of his form with two wins and a runner-up finish, but Ting has not been totally happy with the five-year-old ahead of his return to the track after nearly three months off.

“In these last two months, his health has not been stable,” Ting said. “Sometimes he’s been good and sometimes he’s been off. He’s not 100 per cent but I still think that he’s got a chance.”

After four wins in his last six starts over 1,400m, My Sugar steps up to 1,600m for the first time in the Class Two Rose Handicap and Ting is confident he will not be lacking in stamina.

“It’s his first start at 1,600m but Zac [Purton] and I think that trip will be better for him,” Ting said.

One of Ting’s runners who may be just starting his rise up the ratings is Kowloon East Star, who won his first race in Hong Kong last start and contests the Class Four Lily Handicap (1,000m).

A change in headgear proved to be the catalyst for his latest improved performance and the trainer explained just why that switch worked.

“Sometimes he gets his head up, so that’s why I gave him a shadow roll to make him concentrate. That helps him a lot,” Ting said.

Jimmy Ting backs Gluck Racer to deliver

“Last time the field was a bit weak and he needs a good draw. Sometimes he will miss the start, so he will need some luck, but he’s still got a chance.”

While Ting is only hopeful about the chances of My Sugar and Kowloon East Star, he is full of confidence about the chances of Divine Era in the Class Five Azalea Handicap (1,400m) despite the five-year-old being hit with gate 12.

“Divine Era is my best chance on Saturday,” Ting said. “He ran well last time and I think he’ll run very well.”

Ting has plenty of other runners on the card and is hopeful that the consistent Perfect Pair will run another good race in the Class Three Peach Blossom Handicap (1,400m).

“Early in the season his health was not so good, but we treated him and he’s much better now,” Ting said. “His form is stable and I think he can keep it, so I hope he has a good chance.”

Ting is hopeful a switch to dirt can produce some improvement from Smiling Time in the Class Three Orchid Handicap (1,650m).

“He’s been disappointing,” Ting said. “He was good in South Africa but in Hong Kong he needs some confidence. I’m hoping he can run well on dirt for the first time.”

Veteran What A Legend also competes for Ting in section one of the Class Four Daisy Handicap (1,200m) but age may just be catching up with the seven-year-old.

“His form is good but he’s getting older, so Class Four and a heavy weight is a bit difficult,” Ting said.