Pierre Ng Pang-chi raised the bat at Sha Tin on Sunday as Taj Dragon secured the second-season trainer his 100th career win and left Ellis Wong Chi-wang celebrating the biggest success of his career in the process.

In a competitive Class One Racing Heritage Handicap (1,400m), it was Taj Dragon’s class that prevailed in a tight finish, with the first four home separated by a neck.

Remaining three wins clear of nearest title pursuer Francis Lui Kin-wai, Ng ticked over to 59 victories for the season and reached the 100-win milestone after 161 meetings.

Only John Size (113 meetings), Frankie Lor Fu-chuen (137), Ivan Allan (141) and David Hayes (160) celebrated the landmark with fewer meetings under their belt.

“For a new team to win 100 races in two seasons is amazing,” Ng said. “It’s well deserved for the team and I’m very happy with what we’re doing.

“We just tick along and try to get some more winners. Now we can look for the next 100 in the next two seasons.”

Wong settled Taj Dragon in midfield behind an even pace set by Packing Treadmill and the son of Mehmas travelled ominously around the home turn. The seven-pound claimer urged his mount forward and hit the front in the closing stages before prevailing by a short head.

The fast-finishing Atullibigeal filled the runner-up spot, with Wonder Kit and Supreme Lucky following closely behind.

“We thought it would be like a trial for him,” Ng said. “If the weather was like it was, I just told Ellis to be patient in the straight and build him up. Luckily we got to the front and got the result.

“He always travels so well. His past few races were in Group One and Two which were very competitive. Hopefully he can go well again in the Group Three [Lion Rock Trophy (1,600m)] in June.”

After claiming Group Three honours from 20 pounds out of the handicap on New Year’s Day, Taj Dragon was thrust into Group One company for three of his past four outings.

While he has failed to figure at the top level, with a best finish of sixth, the five-year-old was by no means disgraced in the Centenary Sprint Cup (1,200m), Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup (1,400m) and Champions Mile.

“He’s won a few already this season and he got another one today, so it’s just brilliant,” Ng said. “It was a good ride from Ellis. He was patient and he keeps improving. He keeps winning more and more and hopefully he can win a few more for us this season.”

The victory continued a successful month for Wong, who has returned to the winner’s enclosure eight times from the past 10 meetings, and also marked the 23-year-old’s first win for Ng at the 18th time of asking.

“He’s a pretty nice horse,” Wong said. “There were only six horses in the race and he got cover and the pace was comfortable for him. I thought he could win the race and he sprinted really well. He tries really hard and I’m really happy.”

It was a breakthrough triumph at Class One level for the apprentice and moved him to 19 victories from 181 rides this season.

While he sits in the bottom third of the championship in terms of wins, his 10.5 per cent strike rate ranks fifth.