David Eustace will look at testing Light Years Charm in Group company again after the progressive galloper dug deep to claim a fighting win in Sunday’s Class Two Santa Monica Handicap (1,400m) at Sha Tin.

Dropping in grade after an unlucky seventh behind My Wish in the Group Three Celebration Cup (1,400m), Light Years Charm relished a frenetic speed set by Beauty Crescent and Drombeg Banner to record his fifth win from 11 local starts.

Zac Purton settled the $3.75 favourite in midfield and he charged home in the straight to beat Aeris Nova by half a length, with Mid Winter Wind storming home for third.

While Light Years Charm fell short of expectations when third on his only test at 1,600m last season, the son of Rubick will be forced back up to that trip with the Group Two Jockey Club Mile on November 23 a potential option.

“It’s going to be a bit tricky, isn’t it? I’ve obviously looked at the programme, but we’re going to have to try a mile,” Eustace said.

“In which race that is, I’m not sure yet. We’ll see how he pulls up. There’s a Group Two mile in two weeks’ time, which is quite a big step up but he might just need to do that. We’ll see.”

Eustace and Purton were buoyed by Light Years Charm’s success under 130lb on Sunday.

“I thought it was a really brave effort and Zac said the same after the race. He’s always slow to jump, but that’s the best he’s got away from the gates and into stride and Zac was really strong on him early,” Eustace said.

“That probably won the race, but credit to the horse – he really dug in with the big weight and showed a lot of tenacity.”

Slam makes Grand local debut

Circuit Grand Slam produced a superb performance on his Hong Kong debut to go from last to first in the Class Three Canmake Tokyo Handicap (1,200m).

The Manfred Man Ka-leung galloper was a winner in Ireland for Aidan O’Brien last summer but had not been seen for over 17 months before his Hong Kong bow and was an unconsidered $52.50 shot as a result.

On the back of some OK trials, Circuit Grand Slam was anchored at the back by Britney Wong Po-ni before making eye-catching ground down the middle of the track, gobbling up the turf to win by three-quarters of a length.

Much bigger assignments surely await the son of No Nay Never, who is a half-brother to multiple Group One winner Blackbeard, especially as the result was quite a surprise to his jockey.

“Before I got on, I didn’t think there was much chance of winning because he was having his first start as a European but everything went to our favour, because the race really didn’t favour the lead, it didn’t favour the fence,” said Wong.

“It was good that we could just jump neutral and we didn’t have to be up the front, we didn’t have to urge him during the race and I just had to keep him balanced and help him travel. He was still very green and I think he will improve from that.

“Certainly, he showed his ability today and hopefully he can move forward and upwards.”

Yip lands big double

He was languishing in second last on the trainers’ championship with just two wins heading into Sunday, but Dennis Yip Chor-hong landed a 391-1 double courtesy of Super Love and Thriving Brothers.

Super Love went one better than his last-start second to The Auspicious when he struck for Hugh Bowman in Sunday’s Class Four Elizabeth Arden Handicap (1,400m).

Sent off a $12.55 chance, the U S Navy Flag gelding stalked the leaders from gate four before ominously hitting the front 250m out. He kept on well to beat Strathpeffer by three-quarters of a length.

In the following race 35 minutes later, Thriving Brothers defied his big $31.25 quote to cause a major upset in the Class Three Neogence Handicap (1,400m).

Sent forward by Matthew Chadwick from gate 10, Thriving Brothers stalked pacesetter Lucy In The Sky and collared that galloper in the final 50m to score by a head. Little Paradise, the $2.4 favourite, was close behind in third in a tight finish.

“He’s been very consistent, he’s been a bit more dour this year which makes it better,” Chadwick said after Thriving Brothers notched his second success since joining Yip’s yard from Douglas Whyte.

“Going forward, he’ll put his best foot forward. He’s very honest and he’s healthy so who knows – let’s see what happens.”