Pierre Ng Pang-chi believes “impressive” last-start winner Taj Dragon can handle his new surroundings when he steps up to Class Two level for Wednesday’s Tokyo Handicap (1,650m) at Happy Valley.

Runner-up on resumption over 1,400m at Sha Tin in September, Taj Dragon produced a dominant display to brush aside his 13 rivals over the same course and distance last month.

While the four-year-old has looked at home at Sha Tin, he remains an unknown under race conditions at Happy Valley and will also have to negotiate a step up in grade and trip in his first start at the city circuit.

“He won impressively last time, and we’ve trialled him after. He looks perfect,” Ng said.

“He’s trialled at Happy Valley before, so I think he’ll be fine. He’s raced in the United Kingdom, so he’ll be used to it. It’s his first time in Class Two, and he’s got an OK weight.”

Before arriving in Hong Kong, Taj Dragon – formerly known as Taj Alriyadh – showed plenty of promise over sprinting distances in the United Kingdom, notching three wins from his four outings.

While Taj Dragon’s three Hong Kong wins have come at seven furlongs, Ng admits his charge will be suited to the extended Valley mile provided jockey Zac Purton keeps enough in the tank.

“He’s stepping up to 1,650m, so I think we’ll have to time it right at the end of the straight. He’s got plenty of speed,” Ng said.

Purton will have to negotiate stall eight as he continues his partnership with the progressive gelding, while Helene Feeling and Meaningful Star rate immediate dangers in the 10-runner field.

After cementing his lead atop the trainers’ championship with his first four-timer at Sha Tin on Saturday, Ng looks well placed to add to his 20 wins thanks to a three-pronged attack in the Class Three Nakayama Handicap (1,000m).

Last-start winner Fortune Warrior recorded his first victory in Hong Kong with a brave front-running display at this venue a week ago. Given a five-point rise for that success, he makes the jump in grade drawn widest of all.

“He was amazing on his last start. He didn’t get to the rail until about 600m out, and he still stayed on until the last stride,” Ng said. “Hopefully, with the light weight, he can get some more prize money.”

Purton, who was in the plate for three of Ng’s four weekend triumphs, will hop aboard Humble Star in the 1,000m contest. A placegetter on all of his three outings this term, the five-year-old has been knocking on the door.

“He’s been running brilliantly. Hopefully, with a good pace this time, he can get the job done,” Ng said.

The last of the conditioner’s representatives in the Nakayama Handicap is Super Commander, who produced an underwhelming effort when sixth of 10 at Sha Tin on Saturday.

“I don’t think he liked the moisture in the track [at Sha Tin]. He likes rock-hard, fast ground, and I hope it dries up on Wednesday for him,” Ng said.