Zac Purton, Joao Moreira and John Size featured prominently on the undercard of the BMW Hong Kong Derby meeting at Sha Tin on Sunday with trebles, while Ricky Yiu posted a double.

Eternal Bloom landed the Class 4 Ping Hai Star Handicap (1200m) for Yiu and Vincent Ho in the programme-opener, prompting Yiu to predict a bright future for the Turn Me Loose three-year-old.

“He’s a nice horse in the making, he’s still maturing, but I like him,” Yiu said before notching a double with Toycoon in the Class 4 Helene Mascot Handicap (1600m) under Moreira.

“Toycoon has been consistent but unlucky. That was his 26th start but this was the right race for him. He’s a genuine horse.”

Frankie Lor was surprised by Run Run Cool’s gaping four and three-quarter length victory in the Class 4 Super Satin Handicap (1000m) under Purton as light rain shrouded the course.

“I did not think he would win by almost five lengths,” Lor said. “Zac said he really liked the ground today, so that might be a factor.”

Purton bagged a double when John Size-trained Country Boy scrambled to a short-head victory over Amazing Victory in the Class 4 Fay Fay Handicap (1400m). 

Firing in a treble aboard Rise Brethren with success in the Class 3 Akeed Mofeed Handicap (2000m), Purton continued to excel - while denying winning trainer Shum a dead-heat. Shum also prepared the runner-up Copartner Elites, who was a short head away in yet another tight finish.

Formerly known as Liffey River when trained by Joseph O’Brien in Ireland, the Lope de Vega gelding finished second in the Britannia Stakes (1600m) at Royal Ascot in June, 2021. Copartner Elites, then known as Beautiful Bertie, finished fifth in the same race.

Size’s Running Glory confirmed his rich promise with his third victory in six starts, adding the Class 4 Designs On Rome Handicap (1600m) to his resume under Moreira before Size and Moreira combined successfully with Blaze Warrior in the Class 2 Rapper Dragon Handicap (1200m).

Cruz unveiled another talented galloper with the debut triumph of Buzzinga in the Class 3 Luger Handicap (1200m) under Teetan. Formerly trained in Australia by Richard and Chantelle Jolly when known as Hardtoexplain, the All Too Hard gelding won a maiden at Morphettville last year before export to Hong Kong.

Golden Empire, another Hong Kong International Sale graduate, collected a HK$600,000 bonus with victory in the Class 3 Collection Handicap (1400m) for Francis Lui and Ruan Maia.

Hong Kong racing continues on Wednesday night at Happy Valley.