Frankie Lor Fu-chuen is confident Horsepower will relish a return to 1,000m and a light weight when the talented sprinter tackles Saturday’s Class One Pearce Memorial Challenge Cup at Sha Tin.

A three-time winner from five starts in his first Hong Kong season, the former Australian galloper drops back to the minimum trip after failing on his first attempt at 1,200m last start.

Champion jockey Zac Purton told stewards that Horsepower raced too keenly in the early and middle stages and refused to settle when ninth to Kaholo Angel at Happy Valley.

While Lor hasn’t given up on the Harry Angel gelding running a strong six furlongs in the future, he has high hopes that the return to the course and distance of his victory in February will work the oracle.

“I asked Zac to just jump and relax. They were going quick early and he asked the horse to go with them and then he pulled,” Lor said of Horsepower’s recent defeat.

“Maybe later on we can try 1,200m at Sha Tin – they might go quicker there. This time, he goes back to 1,000m at Sha Tin and Zac can ride him 2lb over [his allotted weight of 118lb].

“I think he’ll be OK and his form’s OK. Hopefully we can have a good result for his last run of the season.”

A winner at his final two Australian starts when known as Fire Follower, Horsepower made a spectacular start to his Hong Kong career when he stormed home to win first up at the Valley in October.

The four-year-old was then scratched at the barriers for another Valley race when he was found to be lame. Lor gave him a short break and he returned to triumph down the Sha Tin straight in February.

He has drawn barrier three in Saturday’s eight-runner contest, which is headlined by Cody Mo Wai-kit’s straight-track specialist Magic Control and John Size’s quality sprinter Wunderbar, who is fresh from bouncing back to winning form last start.

Group Three National Day Cup (1,000m) winner Beauty Waves will make his stable debut for Tony Cruz after transferring from Pierre Ng Pang-chi’s yard, while Aurora Lady, Full Credit, Red Elegance and Stellar Express round out the field.

Mark Newnham admits he is guarded about Full Credit’s first run since undergoing throat surgery in March to correct a breathing problem.

“You don’t find out until you put them under race pressure,” Newnham said of the four-time winner, who comfortably won a dirt trial last week.

“He’s been a really consistent horse at each of the tracks, including the all-weather, but Saturday will be a test for him.”

With regular rider Lyle Hewitson sidelined with wrist and ankle injuries sustained in a Valley fall on Wednesday night, Full Credit will be ridden by Matthew Chadwick on Saturday.

Newnham has more confidence in his two-pronged attack on Saturday’s Class Three Shek Sheung River Handicap (1,650m), with Mojave Desert and New Forest both chasing back-to-back victories on the dirt.

“Mojave Desert looks like he’ll run out 1,650m. He’s just got to be ridden quietly,” Newnham said.

“The other horse will be up front, so we’ve got two irons in the fire there with two different racing styles. Hopefully it works out and they run one-two.”

Mojave Desert has drawn barrier one with Derek Leung Ka-chun on board, while Harry Bentley replaces Hewitson on New Forest, who jumps from barrier seven.