Tony Cruz knows what it takes to win a Hong Kong Derby – four victories as a jockey and two triumphs as a trainer – and he thinks Fallon, who caused a Boxing Day boilover at Sha Tin, could give him a shot at a magnificent seventh success in the feature event.

Cruz, who rode Co-Tack (1983), Tea For Two II (1987), Clear City (1988) and Makarpura Star (1995) to Derby wins before saddling Lucky Owners (2004) and Helene Mascot (2008) for their victories in the city’s most prestigious race, was bullish about Fallon’s prospects after the Irish import stunned punters with his Class Four Tin Wan Handicap (1,600m) success at $69.40.

Fallon won a Punchestown maiden as a two-year-old on his only appearance in Ireland. The former Michael O’Callaghan-prepared youngster arrived in Hong Kong this time last year, and his first three runs in the city – all over 1,400m – did not scream Classic Series contender, with 12th-, 10th- and 11th-place results.

However, Fallon relished stepping up to 1,600m for the first time since his juvenile victory overseas, and he surged from last to first in the home straight under Keith Yeung Ming-lun, the son of Galileo Gold’s 22.84-second final 400m sectional more than half a second faster than all of his opponents.

“He had only one start in Ireland and won, but he was a very immature horse coming here,” Cruz said. “He was only a two-year-old when he came to Hong Kong, so I gave him plenty of time so he could mature.

“I didn’t want to race him against older horses, but this season, with plenty of education and trials, he started to mature. He just got better and better.

“I told Keith to ride him very quietly because he’s got no early speed – nothing at all – but that he’d finish strongly, and that’s what he did.”

Asked if the HK$26 million showpiece on March 24 was an option for Fallon, Cruz said: “I’m going that way. There’s a four-year-old race over 1,600m on January 13, then after that, another two races – one over 1,800m and one over 2,000m – before the Derby.”

Lor’s first ISG is Super

Another Classic Series-eligible galloper who won at Sha Tin on Boxing Day was stoutly bred Super Goldi, Frankie Lor Fu-chuen’s first Hong Kong International Sales graduate winning the Class Four Shui Pin Wai Handicap (1,200m) at his first competitive outing.

Super Goldi, for whom Marces Lee Tze-bun paid HK$4.6 million at this year’s auction in June, travelled in third spot, moved to the lead with 150m remaining and repelled the late challenge of another first starter, John Size-trained $2.85 favourite Top Scorer.

“This is my first ISG [international sale griffin] horse, so it’s great to win the race,” Lor said. “He’s by Tavistock, so maybe he’ll need a bit longer in time, but at the moment, this distance looks better.

“In the morning, he’s still a little bit green and keen, and that’s why I trialled him five times.

“He can go further in distance, but I don’t think we’ll be looking at the Derby at this moment. It was only a Class Four. We’ll see how he improves.”

Newnham’s Diamond in the rough

Mark Newnham has known Diamond Flare since he was a yearling, training him in Australia before reuniting with him in Hong Kong after the sprinter’s seven unplaced runs for Ricky Yiu Poon-fai last term.

Diamond Flare made it two victories from his past three starts when, at Sha Tin on Boxing Day, he led all the way to win the Class Four Tin Sau Handicap (1,200m) on the dirt under Luke Ferraris.

“I think we’ve worked this horse out now. He’s a leader,” Newnham said. “I think the key to him is he enjoys being out in front. That’s been the key to the reversal of his form. He’s able to sustain a strong gallop. His last three starts have been consistent.

“I thought he ran well last week. He’s a horse who holds a lot of condition all the time. Even though he raced last week, he was still up one pound. You can never work him enough and never feed him enough. His form’s solid now. Let’s hope he can continue it.”

In the Tin Sau Handicap, Yeung earned a one-meeting ban for his careless riding of Compassion Super, with the 35-year-old set to miss the card on January 1 as well as those on January 4, 7 and 10 for previous indiscretions.

Ng’s sequence stops at 15

The remarkable winning streak of Pierre Ng Pang-chi ended at Sha Tin on Boxing Day when the championship-leading trainer failed to make it 16 meetings in a row with at least one visit to the winner’s enclosure.

Ng’s highest-placed finisher was Ka Ying Cheer, who was fourth in the Class Three Nam Shan Handicap (1,200m) behind Raging Blizzard, Gorgeous Win and Lady’s Choice.