Hong Lok Golf could be a season-defining horse for Harry Bentley and the Brit is relishing the chance to hop back aboard in Wednesday’s Class Two Beijing Handicap (1,400m) ahead of a potential Group-race campaign.

The five-year-old was almost perfect in his debut campaign, winning six of his seven starts. The only defeat came when he finished a desperately unlucky second at Sha Tin in February, after being hemmed in at a crucial stage.

Since that Class Three defeat, he has subsequently saluted in a pair of Class Two races, most recently when overcoming a pace bias to prevail at Happy Valley.

Although a tad lazy in his work, he oozes star quality when he hits the track competitively and Bentley thinks the Chris So Wai-yin-trained riser has the world at his feet – provided he passes this handicap test.

“I’m really looking forward to getting back on him for obvious reasons,” said Bentley. “He’s had a couple of trials but he never puts his best foot forward on the all-weather, so I would take them with a pinch of salt.

“We always see him at his best on race day on the turf, so I’m really looking forward to seeing how he shapes up – it’s a nice stepping stone going forward.

“Group races are well on his radar now, but we need to see how he goes in handicap company once again. Then, depending on how he runs, he can potentially step up to Group company next time out.

“Chris has plotted a bit of a path with him and we’ve got options either way.”

It is a big day for So overall at Sha Tin on Wednesday, with another of his ratings climbers, Top Dragon, making his return in the Class Three Tianjin Handicap (1,400m).

That four-year-old really found his footing towards the end of last season, winning a pair of races before a draw in the car park found him out at Sha Tin in June.

It has been a strong start to the campaign for Bentley, who sits on the four-winner mark and possesses the third-best strike rate in the city this season.

He rode perhaps the most convincing winner on Sunday’s card to continue his rapid start, with the David Hayes-trained Tomodachi Kokoroe running riot in the Class Two Magpie Handicap (1,200m).

He is looking to continue that momentum in the hopes that he can raise further eyebrows as he continues to thrive in his fifth full season in Hong Kong.

“He won really well. I knew it was going to be tough racing against the likes of Dancing Code, but this horse had been galloping so well,” said Bentley.

“I did a trial here at Sha Tin on him and he felt like a million dollars and then subsequently he trialled up at Conghua. I wasn’t on board that day but watching it, he looked brilliant. I was really happy with his preparation and I know David was too, but it’s obviously a nice surprise when they win that easily.

“It’s obviously not easy, especially in Class Two and Class Three races – they’re never easy races to win, but I’ve had a really good start to the season. I hope they keep flowing and I can pick up some more rides off the back of them.”

Bentley also rides The Way We Win, Jubilation For All, Glorious Expert and Win Method in a strong book of rides on National Day.