Provided Anticipation can keep his teeth to himself, the Tony Cruz-trained import can break through as banker in the tough opening leg of the Triple Trio tomorrow at Sha Tin.

A Listed winner for Aidan O’Brien as a three-year-old, Anticipation didn’t really come up during his Derby preparation last season and is yet to win for Cruz in 14 starts.

In four starts this time in, though, Anticipation hasn’t run a bad race and has been unlucky not to win on a couple of occasions – even while earning a warning from stewards for attempting to savage another horse.

After being held up at a crucial stage last start, Anticipation was finding the line well before turning his head to the side and attempting to bite eventual runner-up Victory Magic.

Anticipation was third, but steps up to what seems his best distance for now, 1,800m – a journey over which he has placed twice in three starts.

First-up this term, Anticipation nearly won over a mile when beaten a short-head, before being pushed to sit handy in another mile race and finishing fifth. Then, two starts back over 1,800m, the four-year-old was an eye-catching second to Bubble Chic, running the fastest final 400m sectional of the race and doing his best work late.

Douglas Whyte is back on Anticipation for the first time since the first-up defeat and gets down to 119 pounds to ride in a race where tactical speed will come in handy.

Anticipation has shown himself to be reasonably versatile and from barrier six Whyte should be able to slide across behind the speed in a contest where the pace could be mixed.

Regency King has led in the past and looks most likely to take up the running, which could provide Savvy Nature (Joao Moreira) with an ideal spot. An even pace looks unlikely, though, and being forward of midfield could be an advantage.

John Size-trained Ensuring (Zac Purton) is one of two top weights coming off placings in the Sa Sa Ladies’ Purse two weeks ago and he goes in.

The other is Anticipation’s stablemate Romantic Touch (Neil Callan), this year’s BMW Hong Kong Derby placegetter who sat handy last start and lost by a neck to Top Act.

Also consider Supreme Profit (Vincent Cheminaud), who seems to be nearing peak fitness.

At this raceday two years ago, Ashkiyr (Moreira) was racing for an international day start in the Jockey Club Cup but now finds himself deep in Class Three and is ready to win again over 1,800m.

Ashkiyr hasn’t put a number one next to his name in the form guide for more than 22 months but seems to have found a competitive mark now and was beaten by a head over the course and distance two starts back.

In a weak race, also take Autumn Gold (Purton), Formula Won (Gerald Mosse) and Sergeant Titanium (Karis Teetan).

TT players get a rare crack at a Group race in the final leg where Military Attack (Purton) looks the standout pick in the Jockey Club Cup, particularly without the five-pound penalty given to Group One winners in the past year.

Take Tony Cruz-trained pair Blazing Speed (Callan) and Beauty Only (Mosse), but after that it is hard to know where to stop in a race that can produce a surprise result.

Perhaps Khaya (Nash Rawiller) is the one who can run a sneaky race and steal a placing before heading up in distance to the Hong Kong Vase.