Russian Emperor and Senor Toba are settling in nicely in Qatar ahead of next weekend’s H.H. The Amir Trophy (2,400m) at Al Rayyan Racecourse after departing Hong Kong on Saturday.

Caspar Fownes confirmed he is happy with how Senor Toba has handled the travel, while Douglas Whyte is looking forward to linking up with Russian Emperor on Tuesday.

“He’s actually travelled very well. He was a dream on the plane apparently, he drank, he ate and he was a very relaxed individual. He obviously lost weight, which they will do, but I had him a bit heavier before he left in order to get that off him,” Whyte said of Russian Emperor, who will be ridden by Alberto Sanna.

“Hopefully I will be able to either sit on him or watch Alberto give him a gallop on Tuesday morning. He will just go around the turf track and have a bit of a look – he’s done his work already, so I’m not trying to get him fit. I’m just going to let him have a look at the track and get himself acquainted with the surroundings.”

Whyte and Sanna combined for five victories during the Italian’s time based in Hong Kong and the South African trainer is looking forward to joining forces again.

“He’s had some good success for me, he won on Uncle Steve – my first Class Two winner – so there’s a bit of history there. He’s riding phenomenally well in Qatar, so it’s good to put somebody on who knows the track and is in great form,” Whyte said.

Has Ho found a Derby Bro?

Peter Ho Leung is daring to dream that Woodfire Bro can provide him with his first Hong Kong Derby (2,000m) runner since 2017 after taking out the Class Three Hillier Handicap (1,800m) at Sha Tin on Sunday.

The four-year-old dug deep to produce his third victory of the season and will boast a rating somewhere in the high 70s five weeks out from the city’s most prestigious race.

“He’s really consistent, he’s definitely a stayer and hopefully he can improve bit by bit and make it to the [Derby]. I will try to get him there,” Ho said.

It was Derek Leung Ka-chun who lifted Woodfire Bro to his shorthead victory over Champion Dragon, with the jockey completing a treble after the earlier victories of Run Run Buddy and Owners’ Praise.

“I’m very lucky today and very happy to have the support of the owners and trainers,” Leung said. “I had some decent chances today and it’s worked out really well. Hopefully, I can keep it going.”

After a personal-best 48 winners last season, Leung has carried his form into the 2022-23 campaign and sits on 21 victories at the halfway mark.

Victory excites Richards

Jamie Richards is hopeful he has a nice type on his hands in Laser Victory after the three-year-old justified strong market support to lead throughout on debut in the Class Four Ko Shing Handicap (1,200m).

Backed into $2.5 to defy gate 12 under star jockey Zac Purton, Laser Victory had to work to find the front early from the outside barrier but it was an easy watch for the son of Brazen Beau’s trainer and supporters.

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“It’s tough for a first timer to be used at both ends like that. To use the speed from the barrier to lead and then to find another good kick, I thought was an encouraging way to start things off today,” Richards said.

“Of course you do worry [about the wide barrier] but thankfully Zac had been riding him in his trials and he was happy to ride him today.”

While Laser Victory stopped the clock in a moderate 1:09.59 on the way to holding off the closing Soaring Tower by a length and a quarter, Richards is confident his charge will continue to progress.

“He’s a promising horse, he’s arrived in good order, he’s trialled up well and he did a good job today,” said the Kiwi handler after moving to 15 winners through half of his first Hong Kong season.

“We’ll see what the handicapper does to him but hopefully onwards and upwards from here.”

Adefill the all-weather ace

The Ricky Yiu Poon-fai-trained Adefill has grown another leg since being transferred to Sha Tin’s all-weather surface by the veteran handler, with the four-year-old producing a dominant six-and-a-quarter-length win in the Class Four Lyttelton Handicap (1,200m).

After a best finish of fifth from six starts on the Sha Tin turf, the Deep Field gelding is now two from two on the dirt and could find himself in Class Three company.

Despite travelling three-wide outside the leaders under Karis Teetan, Adefill assumed the lead about 250m from home and streaked away to the easiest of victories as the $4.25 second elect.

“I didn’t realise I was so far in front,” Teetan said. “I could hear the other jockeys calling out, but it wasn’t until I looked at the replay on the big screen that I realised he had won by as far.

“He’s mentally and physically improved and he obviously likes the all-weather surface.”