James McDonald and Hugh Bowman are confident Galaxy Patch and Helios Express are primed to produce peak performances at the Longines Hong Kong International Races (HKIR) after competing in a star-studded trial at Sha Tin on Thursday.

Set for the Group One Hong Kong Sprint (1,200m) on Sunday week, Helios Express under Bowman vied for the lead with Packing Hermod in Thursday’s dirt hit-out over 1,200m and kept on solidly to run second to that galloper.

Fellow Hong Kong Sprint contender Raging Blizzard ran fourth, while leading Group One Hong Kong Mile contenders Galaxy Patch and Voyage Bubble weren’t let go by McDonald and Zac Purton, respectively, when finishing fifth and sixth.

Group One Hong Kong Vase (2,400m) runner Ka Ying Generation also wasn’t tested when finishing last of seven.

Helios Express trialled far better than he did on his last appearance on the dirt, when he was beaten 27 lengths on a rain-affected surface before proving that was no issue with an encouraging third to Ka Ying Rising in the Group Two Jockey Club Sprint (1,200m) last start.

“He was more positive than the last trial, wasn’t he? But he showed in the race he’s going well and he’s clearly physically come on since that race as well,” Bowman said of the John Size-trained sprinter, who was only beaten half a length by Ka Ying Rising when second in last year’s Hong Kong Sprint.

“I imagine we’ll see a peak performance from him next week. We know where the pecking order is [with Ka Ying Rising], but horse racing is horse racing. Helios Express is in great order, I couldn’t be happier with him and we’ll give it our best shot.”

McDonald is bullish Galaxy Patch can back up his last-start Group Two Jockey Club Mile success – his first victory in 13 months – when he clashes with the likes of Voyage Bubble, My Wish and Soul Rush next week.

“The thing about Galaxy is, I feel he’s improved since the other day. He seems to have got a bit of confidence out of that and he didn’t trial as good as what he trialled for me this morning leading into that run,” McDonald said.

“It just shows that he’s taken a good step forward and I think I’m on the right horse there.”

McDonald booted home Voyage Bubble in last year’s Hong Kong Mile, but the Ricky Yiu Poon-fai-trained Triple Crown victor will be ridden by Purton next week.

“He’s OK. He’s going back from 2,000m to back to the mile, so he wasn’t out there to do too much,” Purton said after the trial.

There were four other HKIR runners in action at Thursday’s trials, including Bowman’s Mile mount Red Lion and Group One Hong Kong Cup (2,000m) ride Massive Sovereign.

“Massive Sovereign has a job ahead of him [against Romantic Warrior], but I think he’s going well,” the Australian ace said.

“I was pleased with his trial – he felt really good in his action and he’s a very clean-winded horse.

“Red Lion is ticking over very nicely. I thought he was a little bit underwhelming [when 12th in the Jockey Club Mile], but he’s done that before and then bounced back.

“I galloped Moments In Time, who I ride in the Vase, this morning and I’m actually really quite taken by how he’s going. He too has the task ahead of him, but he’s going well.”

Size’s Vase runners Bundle Award, who will be ridden by McDonald, and Ensued were also given quiet trials.

Australian jockey Craig Williams has been booked to ride Ensued and Hong Kong Cup contender Straight Arron.