John Size-trained Eroicocouldn't have done much more than he has to date and he looks the horse to beat again going for three straight in the Pok Oi Cup (1,200m) at Sha Tin on Sunday, reporets HK Racing Post (www.racing.scmp.com)
Joao Moreira's return from suspension coincides with the reappearance of the talented four-year-old who has yet to have another pilot and is unbeaten at this afternoon's course.
Size gave Eroico his debut at Happy Valley - both an unlucky defeat and a good learning experience resulted - and he has been bombproof at the bigger track since.
His Class Four win in November was straightforward stuff as he ran past Elite Spirit after getting the run of the race, but there were more tricks to his win in Class Three last time.
Eroico drew out and Moreira wasn't about to be negative on the gelding, surging forward early and using his speed to sit outside the leader.
The difference was that Eroico went through the first 400 metres of the race two lengths faster on raw times than he had in Class Four, on a track that wasn't quite as quick, so he was burning energy that was not going to be available again at the finish.
The second section was about the same after the speed of the track is taken into account so the test was going to be how he held on in the final 200m after virtually being emptied of petrol to that point.
But, while others came out of the pack and flashed at him late, the post arrived in time for Eroico to win again and show he has character to match his ability.
Today's race promises to be run differently, with only Eroico and Longwah Amber (Vincent Ho Chak-yiu) looking like serious on-pace runners and Moreira should be able to conserve Eroico's energy more for the finish this time.
His main danger should be John Moore-trained Tango Fire (Nash Rawiller), who finished third in that race behind Eroico on international day.
He drew wide too, but went back early and was several lengths behind Eroico in running before he became one of those finding the line late as the leaders weakened and he was beaten a length at the finish.
That finish to take back two and a half lengths from the top of the straight was flattered by the way the race was run, but a better draw this time should see Tango Fire much closer, perhaps even on the favourite's back in the run, without being burned to get there.
Another interesting runner is Smart Declaration (Neil Callan), who has run well at each start and improved a little at each.
He isn't ideally drawn but any further improvement would make him a real contender.