It’s not all about Seoul for Pierre Ng as he follows seven Sha Tin runners from Korea

Frequent flier Pierre Ng Pang-chi’s second season starts on Sunday with the globetrotting trainer saddling Duke Wai and Apache Pass at Seoul while watching seven of his gallopers racing at Sha Tin.

In overseas fixed-odds betting markets, Duke Wai is the Group Three Korea Sprint (1,200m) third favourite behind Remake and Bathrat Leon. Apache Pass is seventh in the Group Three Korea Cup (1,800m) rankings that another couple of well-respected Japanese raiders, Crown Pride and Gloria Mundi, head.

Tony Millard-prepared and Karis Teetan-ridden Super Jockey won the 2016 Korea Sprint from barrier two by four lengths. Last year’s Group One Hong Kong Vase-winning jockey Damian Lane will steer Sha Tin dirt victor Duke Wai from gate 11 in a stronger edition.

“The Japanese will be hard to beat,” Ng said. “Also, of the locals, I respect the chances of Ssonsal and the defending Korea Sprint champion, Eoma Eoma.

“Barrier 11 is a better draw for Duke Wai than an inside one. Hopefully, he can manage to get going around 200m from home and be tough to the line.

“I think there’s not a big difference between the surfaces for him. Also, the Seoul dirt track is racing similarly to a good Sha Tin dirt track.”

A three-time winner on Sha Tin’s all-weather circuit, Apache Pass is revelling on Seoul’s sand surface, but his starting position in stall 13 concerns Ng.

“Apache Pass is good on the dirt, and he loves the track here, but he’s going to need a lot of luck to get in from his very tricky gate,” Ng said of Lane’s other engagement for the 40-year-old handler.

“But half of the Korea Cup field are what I’d call normal horses, so he could earn some prize money.”

Last-start victor Greenwich and Australian Group Two-winning import Bon’s A Pearla headline Ng’s seven-strong squad for opening day at Sha Tin.

Greenwich stays in Class Four to contest the second section of the Yi Tung Shan Handicap (1,200m), with Zac Purton electing to stick with the front-runner.

“I think Greenwich will run well. He changed during the summer time off. He’s more mature now,” Ng said.

Like Greenwich, Bon’s A Pearla carries top weight in her Sha Tin assignment, the Class Three Sunset Peak Handicap (1,400m), in which she teams up with Jerry Chau Chun-lok for the second consecutive time.

Bon’s A Pearla’s two victories in Australia occurred in 1,400m events. Ng believes seven furlongs may be the former David Hayes-trained mare’s ideal trip and that she could be a candidate for the all-weather.

“I think Bon’s A Pearla’s best distance could be shorter than most of the trips over which she’s raced since her last win,” Ng said. “Stretched out over further ground, she’s just stayed on one-paced.

“She’s trialled well on the dirt, so maybe there’s a chance we’ll try her on that surface as well.”