Douglas Whyte is just one winner away from matching last season’s total of 41 winners and that all-important victory could come at Group level at Sha Tin on Sunday.

Whyte saddles two runners in the Group Three Premier Plate (1,800m) and both hold realistic chances of at least finishing in the frame.

Turin Redsun has had a fine first season in Hong Kong, running respectably in all three legs of the four-year-old series and putting in some decent performances in his past two runs against older horses.

After coming from last to finish fourth in the Classic Mile, Turin Redsun backed that up by producing probably his best effort since arriving in the city when beaten just a length into second by California Spangle in the Classic Cup after again coming from the rear.

That same late run took him into sixth when sent off at just $8 in the Derby and there would have been high hopes that he could continue to improve towards the end of the season as he took on older horses.

He again came from off the pace to finish third on his penultimate start at Class Two level to Beauty Joy, who has since gone on to win a Group Three, before sitting closer to the speed than usual when again finishing third to improvers Running Glory and Bourbonaire, who have both run well since.

Having carried 126 pounds or more in all seven of his Hong Kong starts, Turin Redsun may be forgiven for thinking he is running free in this handicap under just 108 pounds.

The four-year-old gets lumps of weight from some proven Group One performers and could run well off his rating of 92.

Lurking further up the weights off a rating of 110 is Whyte’s other contender Savvy Nine.

The six-year-old has been consistent for Whyte since joining him at the start of last season and already has a win at this level to his name when coming out on top in the Group Three January Cup over this trip at Happy Valley last year.

With four placings at Group level this season, including a fine second to stablemate Russian Emperor in the Gold Cup, Savvy Nine would have been well fancied for this contest but enthusiasm is tempered by the fact he comes into this run on the back of two disappointing efforts.

Last in the Group One QE II Cup two starts ago, he then faded tamely late on in the Group Three Lion Rock Trophy Handicap (1,600m) and may be losing his form as he approaches the end of the turf season.

Stronger gave Whyte his first Group One win as a trainer when successful in the Centenary Sprint Cup (1,200m) in January and he is bidding to bounce back to form in the Group Three Premier Cup (1,400m).

The five-year-old has failed to fire in his past two starts and steps up to this trip for the first time in his career, but he faces a tough task under top weight against the likes of Lucky Patch and Beauty Joy.

Super King, Super Ten, Victory Park, Universal Crown and King Eccellente round off Whyte’s Sha Tin runners.