Karis Teetan has a quality book of rides at Happy Valley on Wednesday night, spearheaded by Young Champion in the feature Class Two Daisy Handicap (1,200m).

A drop back in trip to 1,200m for his last two starts has seen a return to form for John Size’s Zoustar galloper, recording seconds both times – most recently by a nose to Group performer Beauty Waves with Teetan on board.

“It’s pretty good to see him doing what he’s been doing lately because he was a bit disappointing, but it’s nice that John has found the trick with him. In the last run it was difficult to make up the ground and the winner got away from me,” Teetan said.

The seven-year-old only had his first run at the city circuit last start, and Teetan was impressed with how he handled the tight-turning track.

“He handled Happy Valley pretty well. It was nice to see him letting down on that track; he’s only going to be able to improve from that,” Teetan said.

“He’s doing well at the moment, his trial was good at Conghua – he’s a horse that might have the race run for him and with that weight he’ll run well.”

The Jamie Richards-trained Storming Dragon will be looking for his second win this season when he breaks from barrier five with the light weight of 117lb in the Class Three Hydrangea Handicap (1,200m).

While the Star Turn galloper prefers to run on from back in the field, the tempo looks to be in his favour on Wednesday night, when he breaks from stall five.

“It was a good run last time – he’s come down a bit in the ratings and he’s been running well lately. He finished off really well last time,” Teetan said.

“He needs a fast-run race where he can finish off. He’s got a nice gate and I think he’s going to get the speed he wants. He should be competitive with that weight on his back.”

Teetan remains the only jockey to have won in Hong Kong on Heroic Master and will reunite with him for the first time since June 2024 in the Class Four Bellflower Handicap (1,000m).

The Not A Single Doubt gelding will have his second start for Me Tsui Yu-sak since being transferred to the stable and will be looking to replicate his only victory, which was over the same track and trip.

“I’ve been trying to get on him for a long time, so it was nice that Me Tsui was offering me the horse this time with the weight,” Teetan said.

“He ran a great race last time, he made a lot of ground down the straight. He’s got a nice draw and I think if he gets the right run in the fast run race – that’s what he likes – he’ll be able to finish off strong.”

Smart City is another runner who has only saluted under Karis Teetan and, while a step back in trip should be of benefit in the Class Four Dahlia Handicap (1,800m), barrier 11 could prove a tough task.

“He’s a horse that’s been running well lately. He’s got a bad draw this time, so it’s going to make it a bit tougher, but he’s a horse that I know well, it’s nice to get back on him,” said Teetan.

“I think he’s a horse who – from that draw – is not capable of going all the way back and running at them, so he’s going to need to get himself in a handier position. If he gets a nice run, we’ll be good.”

Teetan’s book of rides also includes Leslie, Heroic Master, Marvel And Gold and Noisy Boy.

Wednesday will be a warm-up for Sunday’s racing at Sha Tin when the city’s best four-year-olds go head to head in the Hong Kong Derby (2,000m). Teetan is looking forward to taking on the challenge aboard Sagacious Life.

“His last run, he had an excuse, he got sort of got checked up pretty badly and got crowded. He’s a horse that I believe going towards the Derby should have a chance. He was one of the horses that were pretty highly pumped up before the Classic Mile so I’m very happy to be on him,” Teetan said.

Proven at the trip when scoring over 2,400m in Brazil pre-import, Teetan has no need to worry about the Derby distance for the son of Put It Back.

“That’s the good thing about this horse; the trip should be no problem. When horses now have to go two turns in a Derby, not like the Classic Mile or the Classic Cup, the whole form can change,” Teetan said.

“I think it’s going to be an interesting race. If they run a true-run 2,000m race, I think it’s going to play in his favour. Some of those horses don’t stay.”