KARIS TEETAN RATES LUCKY IMPACT ONE OF HIS BEST RIDES AS HE BIDS FOR BREAKTHROUGH WIN

Mauritian jockey has high hopes for promising four-year-old as he searches for first triumph this term at Sha Tin on Sunday

Karis Teetan is pinning his faith on Lucky Impact as one of his prime chances to score a breakthrough win when the four-year-old resumes at Sha Tin on Sunday.

Chasing his first victory this term after four placings at the first two meetings, the Mauritian jockey boasts several strong chances among his full book of 10 rides on Sunday.

Lucky Impact caught his eye with a fast-finishing fourth on debut last term under Hugh Bowman and Teetan hops aboard for the gelding's second start in the Class Four Tung Wah Group Of Hospitals Challenge Cup (1,400m).

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Trained by Frankie Lor Fu-chuen, Lucky Impact was heavily backed into $2.6 favouritism for his first start in July but an awkward start forced him to settle off the speed.

The son of Real Steel made up considerable ground in the final 150m to finish fourth, two lengths behind Parterre, over 1,200m at Sha Tin.

"I thought his first run was a good run," Teetan said. "I trialled him before in Conghua and I knew the horse a bit, so it wasn't a surprise he did so well first time out.

"He looked like he finished off his race pretty well. It looks a bit like he did a few things wrong, but he hit the line strongly."

Teetan was impressed with Lucky Impact's trial on the Sha Tin dirt earlier this month when he travelled comfortably on the speed and ran second under little pressure behind Hero Star.

"He's stepping up in distance now and I think 1,400m will just be a bit helpful for him," Teetan said.

"Like I said, he's still a young horse and still learning a few things, so I think the trial will bring him on. He's got an OK draw [barrier seven], so hopefully he goes to the races and performs his best.

"The 1,400m will just give him his chance to find his rhythm and let's hope he can run a good race."

Lucky Impact strikes an even field with dual Sha Tin winner Top Peak, Devas Twelve and last-start winner Mission Voice among his rivals.

Teetan was last season's leading rider on the dirt and he has strong claims in Sunday's two races on the all-weather track.

David Hayes' Regent Glory looks a top chance in the Class Four Hing Wah Handicap (1,200m), while the Manfred Man Ka-leung-trained Self Improvement just needs luck from barrier 11 to perform well in the Class Three Oi Tung Handicap (1,200m).

"He was running very well last season," Teetan said of Regent Glory, who won twice on the dirt last term. "I'm very happy with him. His trial was good and his work has been really good, so I'm looking forward to riding him again.

"I think a dirt race really suits him because he's got a lot of natural speed, he gets himself into a really decent position and from there on he just sort of cruises along."

Self Improvement also recorded two wins on the all-weather surface last season and was a dominant trial winner on the same track in the lead up to his return.

Mister Dapper, Vulcanus, Omakase, Go Hero, Strongest Boy, Carroll Street and Super Love Dragon are Teetan's other rides on Sunday.