Ka Ying Rising might not be in attendance on Wednesday, but the only horse to have beaten him, Wunderbar, will look to enhance his already stellar record when he lines up in the feature Group Three National Day Cup (1,000m).

The son of Rich Enuff was a three-time winner last season, with his only run under Wednesday’s jockey Hugh Bowman being a cosy win in a 1,200m Class Two at Sha Tin in June.

He followed that run up with a brilliant second to Beauty Waves in the Class One Pearce Memorial Challenge Cup (1,000m) when he was giving that rival 6lb.

The pair reoppose in the National Day Cup with Wunderbar enjoying a 15lb swing at the weights and his jockey Hugh Bowman was reeling off the positives as he looked forward to the ride.

“It’s nice to get back on board. He’s performed well over the course and distance,” said Bowman. “He’s got a favourable draw and he looks like one of the live chances to my eye.

“He felt great and enthusiastic [when ridden in a Conghua trial last week]. I galloped him up the middle of the track – I didn’t want him being too competitive with the other opponents, so I cruised up on my own and he felt really good.

“He should be ready to perform really well. They’re all worthy opponents, but 1,000m I think is certainly right up the alley of my horse and you know there’s going to be good natural pace as well, which will be in his favour.

“The pace seems to have drawn around me as well. I don’t really do speed maps but it appears as though I’m going to get a pretty sweet run and if he gets in a good rhythm and conserves some energy, he’s going to be very powerful over the last 100m.”

Wunderbar’s main rival, Beauty Waves, will have the fitness edge after reappearing with a seventh-placed finish behind Ka Ying Rising in the Class One HKSAR Chief Executive’s Cup (1,200m) on September 7.

Other strong chances include 2024 Group One Chairman’s Sprint Prize (1,200m) winner Invincible Sage, who was pitched into Group company for nine of his 11 starts last season and should enjoy a drop in grade.

Raging Blizzard has raced at the 1,200m trip for all of his 18 career starts and has it to prove down in distance for Brenton Avdulla and John Size. He was sixth in the aforementioned Chief Executive’s Cup on return.

Bottomuptogether fared best of those who ran behind Ka Ying Rising that day, coming home fifth after setting the fractions. He could be very dangerous with the prospect of a soft lead from stall seven and he is three from four over the 1,000m distance.

There is also a first Group ride in the race for apprentice Ellis Wong Chi-wang, who will pair up with bottom weight Baby Crystal for trainer Francis Lui Kin-wai.

The field is completed by three-time course and distance winners Fast Network and Magic Control, with the latter always at sea on return.