David Eustace plans to wait until near the end of the season to unveil his latest high-profile recruit, Hong Kong Derby (2,000m) hero Massive Sovereign.

The switch from Dennis Yip Chor-hong to Eustace was confirmed earlier this week, with the former Irish galloper joining Group One Centenary Sprint Cup (1,200m) winner Victor The Winner as recent transfers to the British handler.

Eustace’s early success with stable transfers in his first Hong Kong season has caught the attention of owners and his team has been boosted to 67 gallopers.

While Victor The Winner will trial soon before a possible defence of his Centenary Sprint Cup crown, Massive Sovereign will be off the scene for several months after undergoing surgery on a left hind fetlock earlier this month.

The fetlock injury ruled the No Nay Never gelding out of the Group One Hong Kong Cup (2,000m) on December 8 and Eustace and owner Chan Kam-hung plan to give him plenty of time to recover.

“He’ll have a lay-off – he’ll be towards the end of the season,” Eustace said.

“We’ll just see how he recovers, but he’s going to need a period on the sidelines. I think [Champions Day] will come too soon. There’s a Group Three mile [Lion Rock Trophy] and Group Three 1,800m [Premier Plate] towards the end of the season, which are logical races for him.

“Obviously he’s a Derby winner and Dennis did a great job with him. I’m grateful to get the chance to train the horse.”

A two-time Irish winner for Aidan O’Brien when known as Broadhurst pre-import, Massive Sovereign burst on the scene for Yip when brilliantly winning a Class Three 2,000m event on Hong Kong debut in March.

The four-year-old backed that up on his next start, storming home to claim a record-breaking Derby triumph for Yip and champion jockey Zac Purton.

However, he finished no better than sixth on his following three starts with a mix of excuses.

While Eustace is happy to play the waiting game with Massive Sovereign, the 32-year-old has been encouraged by Victor The Winner’s progress since joining the stable earlier this month.

“It’s obviously great to get them,” Eustace said of his two recruits.

“We need to get them back on track, so to speak, and Victor The Winner seems to have settled in well. He’ll have a trial early January and we’ll see how he trials.

“If he trials well, then we might run in the [Centenary] Sprint. If not, we can take a bit more time with him.”

Formerly trained by Danny Shum Chap-shing, Victor The Winner dropped out to finish a distant last in the Group One Hong Kong Sprint (1,200m) on December 8 after a tough run three-wide outside the lead.

He would face a rematch with Hong Kong Sprint hero, Ka Ying Rising, if he takes his place in the Centenary Sprint Cup on January 19.

Eustace is also weighing up a trip to Japan for the Group One Takamatsunomiya Kinen (1,200m) or possibly Australia, with the Group One William Reid Stakes (1,200m) at Moonee Valley under consideration.

Victor The Winner ran a fighting third behind Mad Cool in the Takamatsunomiya Kinen last March.