Chris So Wai-yin is hoping Top Dragon can get the rub of the green in Thursday’s Class Two Year Of The Horse Cup (1,600m) at Sha Tin after a string of luckless runs in defeat for his smart prospect.

The Pierata galloper is a three-time winner in Hong Kong, gaining his most recent victory when running riot in Class Three company over 1,400m at Sha Tin in October.

Subsequently, he finished second to Little Paradise over the same trip when not enjoying the smoothest of passages in transit, before thundering home into third on his first try of the mile behind Sagacious Life when turning for home last in a leader-friendly race.

His misfortune continued in the Classic Mile, with Maxime Guyon weaving through between horses and as he spied a gap to the inside of Beauty Bolt up the fence, that rival edged across and Guyon was forced to check.

The pair still finished a very good fifth behind Little Paradise, but So knows his charge could have finished much closer and he is hoping it can be third-time lucky at the mile on Thursday.

“He’s going good and the last time he ran, he got traffic in the Classic Mile. If not for the traffic, I think he would have run much closer,” said So of Top Dragon, who has drawn the inside barrier and carries 118lb on Thursday.

“Every race, the horse has run perfect, he just needs more luck – especially after last time. He’s always competitive but he just needs some good fortune. Maybe this time, with the light weight, he can get that.”

A tilt at the Hong Kong Derby (2,000m) on March 22 is still on the radar for Top Dragon, but So is yet to make a firm decision.

So has assembled a strong team for Sha Tin’s bumper Thursday card, with Elite Golf looking to back up his second-start win in the second section of the Class Four Fat Choi Handicap (1,200m).

Running a race full of promise on debut, So’s sprightly three-year-old stepped up on that performance to salute over course and distance, tracking the long-time leader Happy Shooter in second before getting his measure in the closing stages.

It is still early days for Elite Golf, who has drawn stall 14 for his third career outing, and So will be playing the long game with his promising sort.

“After the race, he’s eaten and trained really well. He’s only three years old so he’s just needed some time,” said So.

“I’m just hoping everything will go smoothly for him and if it does, he should run a big race. He’s a good horse; we just need to give him time to grow and mature as well.”

So also runs Mount Everest in the first section of the Class Three Yue Yee Handicap (1,200m) and is hoping he can back up a victory from two starts ago from an ideal draw in stall two.

“He’s still doing really well – like the others he’s healthy and training well. Hopefully he can keep performing as his recent runs have been good including his win,” said So.

On a busy day for the yard, So’s team is completed by Run Yes Run, Sunny Q, Oldtown, Master Of All, Excellence Value and Sunny Da Best.