Jimmy Ting got the coveted call-up to the Hong Kong trainers’ rank as recently as June and the rookie handler hit the ground running thanks to a double on opening day at Sha Tin on Sunday.

With his old mentor and past champion trainer Brian Kan on hand, Ting’s first career runner, Triumphant Jewel, took the season’s first race under fresh South African import Grant Van Niekerk. 

“It’s a good start; I’m very happy that he’s (Kan) come here today,” a delighted Ting, 45, said after smiling through a surge of photo requests.

“Three weeks ago, I didn’t think I’d run Triumphant Jewel,” he said of his breakthrough winner. “But when his trial was good I decided to run and I’m very happy that he was able to win for me.

“If he jumped out well and caught the pace, I thought he could win. He’ll run again in a few weeks and I hope he can win again but Class 3 will be difficult.”

For Van Niekerk, too, Triumphant Jewel’s victory meant a Hong Kong record of one from one heading into race two. The 27-year-old became the first rider since Teetan in 2013 to make a winning Hong Kong debut in the season’s first contest. 

Van Niekerk bookended the card for a double of his own, charging late and fast to nick the last on the Tony Millard-trained World Record. 

“I’m delighted, I’m very blessed to have been given the chance to be here so I’m making the most of the opportunities and I’ll do my best,” he said.

A little more than an hour and a half later, Ting nailed a first career double to see his tally stand, for a short while at least, at two from two. Richcity Fortune, a stable transfer from seven-time champion trainer John Moore, no less, landed the day’s fourth contest, a Class 5 over 1200m, under apprentice Victor Wong.

Hong Kong racing continues at Happy Valley Racecourse with an eight-race card on Wednesday, 5 September when this season’s Hong Kong Airlines Million Challenge will have lift-off.