It’s notoriously difficult to string together consecutive Hong Kong trainers’ titles – the master John Size is the only man to do it in the past 25 years – and reigning champion Francis Lui Kin-wai is certainly not setting any bold targets ahead of the start of the 2024-25 season on Sunday.

But while Lui will have his work cut out backing up his maiden premiership after extracting everything out of his stable to dramatically run down Pierre Ng Pang-chi, he’s no stranger to piling big numbers upon big numbers.

Across the past five seasons, only Size on 332 successes has more victories than Lui’s 316 and, after being a premiership also-ran for much of his career, the latter just keeps on churning out impressive campaigns.

There’s certainly unlikely to be any premiership hangover as Lui goes back to the grind, with the 65-year-old confirming his feet are firmly back on the ground following the euphoria that came with his title-clinching four-win haul on the final day of last term.

“It was so exciting, that last day, and I’m very happy to get the championship, but now it just feels the same as the start of any season,” Lui said, adding that he doesn’t expect to start this season like he finished the last.

“Maybe the horses need a little bit of time to progress their condition. The ratings have all gone up and I’m looking to the young horses now.

“Honestly, I don’t have many Class Four horses, the 52-rated horses – I think this is very important. You need to have three or four horses who can deliver three or four wins.”

Lui saddles up Packing Treadmill and Baby Crystal in Sunday’s feature, the Class One HKSAR Chief Executive’s Cup (1,200m), but expects the David Hayes-trained Ka Ying Rising to be hard to beat.

Last year’s Classic Mile favourite, Packing Treadmill did win first up last season and was solid without saluting through much of the rest of his 13-run campaign, while Baby Crystal hasn’t prevailed at further than five furlongs since he was in Class Four.

“Packing Treadmill is honest but I think his rating is at its top. Baby Crystal is a 1,000m horse but I need to run him,” Lui said.

Lui saddles up Superb Boy in the Class Two Tai Mo Shan Handicap (1,400m) and the six-year-old is another galloper who delivered the goods first up last season.

The booking of Zac Purton is a plus and it does look to be an open race, but Lui feels Superb Boy will need everything to go his way.

“He’s also an honest horse but again, his rating is near the top. It will all depend on the situation for him,” said the veteran handler.

There are some less-exposed runners among the rest of Lui’s seven-strong hand, with Moduleconstruction and Harold Win two gallopers who could well have some upside.