Sky Jewellery and Ka Ying Lightning emerged as the standout performers on the undercard of Saturday’s National Day race meeting in Hong Kong, delivering commanding victories that highlighted their potential for the season ahead.

Sky Jewellery showcased his ability to compete at a higher level by winning the Class Two Beijing Handicap over 1,400 meters at Sha Tin Racecourse. Ridden by James Orman, the five-year-old gelding rallied from near last place to overtake the favourite Hot Delight by a short head in a tightly contested finish. This victory marked Sky Jewellery’s sixth win from nine starts, extending his unbeaten record when racing fresh. Trained by John Size, the Autumn Sun offspring is now considered a strong candidate for upcoming Group One events, including the Hong Kong Mile in December. Size indicated that Sky Jewellery’s rating is likely to increase to at least 100, and he may target the Group Two Sha Tin Trophy over 1,600 meters on October 19 as part of his preparation. The trainer noted the horse’s consistency and potential for further improvement despite a prior setback last year due to a bleeding attack.

Hot Delight, a prominent contender for the current season’s Classic Series, was well regarded despite narrowly missing out on victory. The four-year-old carried the favourite’s burden but was hampered by a wide, uncovered trip throughout much of the race. Drombeg Banner, who experienced a significant jump in betting support, finished third after taking an early lead.

Earlier in the card, Ka Ying Lightning continued his flawless start to the season by claiming the Class Four Hangzhou Handicap over 1,000 meters, defeating Jedi Spurs by two lengths. Jedi Spurs, a highly regarded three-year-old that won impressively on debut in June, was the strong favourite on the day but struggled under a top weight of 135 pounds in his first race against open company. Despite leading early, Jedi Spurs was overtaken in the final stages by Ka Ying Lightning, who demonstrated a strong finishing burst.

Trainer David Hall praised Ka Ying Lightning as an “exciting horse” who has made marked progress, especially in terms of comportment and race-day professionalism. Hall pointed out the horse’s affinity for firm ground and his versatility, suggesting that Ka Ying Lightning could effectively compete over longer distances, with 1,200 meters as a likely next target.

Ka Ying Lightning’s victory contributed to a treble for Hall, who also trained the winners of the Class Five Nanning Handicap and the Class Four Chengdu Handicap earlier in the day. The treble helped maintain Hall’s position as the leading trainer in Hong Kong by strike rate, with six wins from 25 starts this season. Hall acknowledged the strong start but emphasized the importance of sustaining such performance levels throughout the campaign.