Schofield, who is yet to win a Group One in Hong Kong, has been aboard the Richard Gibson-trained Rattan in five of his sevens wins including his 7 April success in the Gr.2 The Sprint Cup (1200m).

“I’d expect he’d run very well,” Schofield said. “This is harder for him at the level weights and with a horse like Santa Ana Lane arriving, but I thought he won on his merits the other day and he came through the race well.

“I galloped him Monday on the grass. He had a very light gallop and felt really good. He's come through his win very nicely and taken no harm from it. He recovered really well, he's fresh and in good order at the moment.”

Like so many before him, Rattan was sourced as a Derby horse but found extending to 2000 metres beyond him, and while he’s won six races at 1400m and 1600m in Hong Kong it just might be that the definitive sprint trip of 1200m proves to be his forte.

“The step back in trip was a winning move. He such an honest horse he can handle 1400 (metres), a mile and even run well at 1800 (metres) but that’s just due to his honesty and ability The way he won last time and with his sectional times with the blinkers on, it’s clear to me that 1200 metres is his best trip. He does have more stamina than most horses in the field so a nice, hot pace would allow him to come and unleash that big turn of foot he’s got.”