Light Years Charm has Group racing in his future after scything his way through the field to win the Class Two Hong Kong Reunification Cup (1,400m) at Sha Tin on Tuesday.

The David Eustace-trained improver always travelled best one from the rear under Zac Purton and despite turning widest of all into the straight, the top jockey was full of both rein and confidence.

When unleashed, the Rubick galloper surged into the lead at the 100m pole before holding off a challenge from the equally fast-finishing Mickley to win by a head.

On a day when making ground was tricky, the effort can be upgraded and Eustace already has Group racing in his thoughts, though a step up in trip might be on the back burner.

“He doesn’t do it the easy way but he just travels so well in his races and he’s able to quicken off it,” said Eustace.

“To come from close to last – the second horse has obviously run very well with no weight – and do it carrying a bit more weight today against what I thought was a very strong field was a really good effort.

“We’ll put him away now. It really does look like 1,400m is his trip. I know he gets back and runs on but he doesn’t actually really look like he wants a mile. There’s really no need to change it now.

“There is [the Group Three Celebration Cup (1,400m)] at the end of September, which looks like the logical kick-off point. We’ll hope that he pulls up well, give him a break and plan for next season.”

For jockey Purton, it was a straightforward assignment on a horse that is quickly building into a potential star.

“It was pretty straightforward. He got out of the gates OK for him and he was in a lovely rhythm the whole race, handled the ground really well and he was just able to come into it with a nice-timed run,” Purton said.

“He had to stave off the challenger the last 100m. He did a really good job to keep sticking his head out.

“David has done an exceptionally good job with him to bring him this far in his first season and they did a good job to find him – he came out of Lismore. It was well spotted by the agents.”

Unsurprisingly, it completed another double for champion jockey Purton, who kicked off the card with victory on Gold Tack in the Class Five Racing Goes On Handicap (1,800m).

The David Hall-trained six-year-old was zero from 29 heading into the race but was in no mood to extend the sequence to 30, always travelling kindly on long-time leader Lapras’ shoulder.

Off the turn, Purton asked the $6.8 shot to extend and his partner duly obliged, quickly spurting into the lead and holding off the fast-charging Mr Aladdin by half a length.

“He’s had a couple of good runs recently and has been very consistent, so it was just a matter of time before he was going to get the win – at his 30th attempt it seems like waiting forever,” said Hall.

“He’s a pretty limited little horse but he’s had six seconds so it’s nice to see him get the win. He had colic surgery at the end of last season and he pulled through that really well, so it’s great for the owners – who had the patience to wait – to get a deserved win.”