There were no surprises when the BMW Hong Kong Derby field was released on Wednesday as the Tony Cruz-trained Circuit Hassler was elevated into the final 14 at the expense of Richard Gibson’s Dee Dee D’Or.

Circuit Hassler’s inclusion gives Cruz three runners in the HK$18 million race on March 19, along with Pakistan Star and Gold Mount, with the “big three” stables of Cruz, John Moore and John Size providing 12 runners between them.

“That’s great news and I’m happy to have three runners, I think he deserves his place,” Cruz said after Jockey Club officials placed the 85-rated horse in ahead of the 88-rated Dee Dee D’Or, who has been unplaced in one run so far for Gibson. “Circuit Hassler is race fit and won a Group Two over 2,200m in New Zealand so we know he will run the trip strongly.”

Circuit Hassler was eighth in the Hong Kong Classic Mile but has run well twice since in handicaps, finishing second to California Disegno and then fourth to Prawn Baba in Class Two at Sha Tin last Sunday.

Prawn Baba took his rating to 94 and into the field, with connections to fly Australian jockey Craig Williams in to ride the gelding.

Prawn Baba’s inclusion gives leading trainer John Size three runners but it is John Moore’s stable that leads the way with six runners.

The standout from Moore’s strong team is Rapper Dragon, winner of the Hong Kong Classic Mile and Hong Kong Classic Cup and by far the highest-rated runner on a mark of 114.

If Rapper Dragon is successful in the 140th running of the Derby he will become the first horse to achieve a clean sweep of the four-year-olds series.

“It’s a huge achievement to just to have that many runners in the Derby, but to think we are going into the race with a horse like Rapper Dragon that has such a massive advantage at the ratings is very exciting,” Moore said.

“It’s been a job well done by the stable. Rapper Dragon has done a treat since his last win and deserves to be favourite, but we have some dark horses as well. Booming Delight has already won over the Derby distance of 2,000m, he continues to do very well and we have Ryan Moore coming in to ride him.

“I’m happy with the way things have turned out and I hope we can fulfil the dreams of some of our owners.”

THE BMW HONG KONG DERBY 2017

HK$18,000,000

2,000 Metres, Sha Tin, Sunday 19 March 2017

(For four-year-olds only)