From RACING POST in Hong Kong 

King Derby gives Australian jockey Christian Reith a good chance at a breakthrough success on Thursday night at Happy Valley, where a better draw can help the Danny Shum Chap-shing-trained sprinter notch his fourth win of the term.

With the Triple Trio seemingly getting harder to crack as the season finale edges closer, King Derby stands out in an incredibly difficult Class Three, the middle leg of the TT.

Reith will ride until the end of this term, called in from Sydney where he was having a breakout season and began his stint at Sha Tin last Sunday.

After back-to-back wins in Class Four, King Derby drew 11 back in Class Three, and after Zac Purton went looking for a midfield position from the start, he was forced to take the first turn three wide with no cover.

Then as Purton rightly sensed the leaders getting things their own way, he scooted around the home bend early, again without cover.

King Derby still kicked hard to the line for fourth, the first three across the line all coming from close in the run. The leader won, runner-up from the box seat second and the horse three back the fence was third.

This time there should be more pace to help King Derby run into the contest and hopefully he gets some help from the better draw.

Purton appears to have chosen to ride Caspar Fownes-trained Domineer - arguably the most progressive horse in the race, but a leader lumbered with barrier 10 and 133 pounds in a race with plenty of speed. He could easily end up stuck on a limb with the horses that look like going forward drawn beneath him.

The horse mapping best is Hong Kong Dancer (Ben So Tik-hung) - he is nowhere near the best in the race, but is in form, drawn one and has enough early speed to take advantage of the gate.

You Read My Mind (Joao Moreira) and Silly Buddies (Brett Prebble) have to be included, but drew awkwardly in gates eight and nine, while seven-year-old Hawthorne (Hugh Bowman) gets blinkers on for the first time at his 58th start and will be pushing forward from gate seven.

The opening leg is even tougher - a Class Four over the extended mile without a reliable favourite to bank on.

Skip Court (Tommy Berry) will have to do - he has drawn one with 115 pounds, however, he has been consistent without being convincing.