Harry Bentley is eager to bag his first Group Two in Hong Kong and the British jockey believes the in-form Tomodachi Kokoroe is the right galloper to deliver the goods when he tackles Sunday’s Premier Bowl (1,200m) at Sha Tin.

A two-time Group Three winner in the city, Bentley has guided Tomodachi Kokoroe to outstanding victories on his two starts this season – the David Hayes-trained seven-year-old’s first successes at Sha Tin.

Returning from a summer break in scintillating form, the Australian import broke the Class Two 1,200m record in his two-length romp first up before overcoming a wide run throughout from gate 11 to score last start.

The back-to-back wins prompted Hayes to thrust him back into Group Two company and Bentley is confident the Written Tycoon gelding can strike on the minimum weight of 115lb.

“He’s obviously in really good form off the back of these two wins this season. I’m quite happy with barrier five and he’s off a light weight. He’s certainly a runner that needs to be respected,” Bentley said.

“David’s obviously got him in really good order and he was trialling really well at the beginning of the season before his first run. I was confident he was going to put in a good performance for that first time out, but he had to back it up from an awkward gate last time and he dug really deep.

“The horse is doing really well and as I say, with a light weight on his back hopefully he’ll be there in the finish. Group Twos aren’t easy to come by, so I’d love to nab one.”

Also a four-time winner at Happy Valley, Tomodachi Kokoroe carries 20lb less than top weight Helios Express, who returns from a campaign featuring seven placings behind the world’s best sprinter, Ka Ying Rising, and a Group Three Sha Tin Vase (1,200m) triumph.

The Premier Bowl also features the likes of Group One winner Invincible Sage, last-start Group Three National Day Cup (1,000m) victor Fast Network, talented sprinter Wunderbar and the consistent Packing Hermod.

After starting the season with four Class Two victories, Bentley will bid for another at the level when he teams up with Hong Lok Golf in Sunday’s Panasonic Cup (1,600m).

The exciting Chris So Wai-yin-trained galloper won six of his seven starts last season and returned with a close third to Healthy Happy on October 1.

“He’s a really interesting runner,” Bentley said.

“Because that Group Two [Sha Tin Trophy] was so oversubscribed, this race was opened up to horses rated 105 and it’s a really strong field with a Derby winner [Massive Sovereign] and Classic Cup winner [Rubylot].

“Hong Lok Golf’s back up to a mile, which I believe is a distance which really suits him now. He’s had a run, so he’s coming on with race fitness and I would expect him to run a really good race.

“He just got caught a little bit flat-footed last time with a slow pace over 1,400m – it just doesn’t really suit him but he finished off nicely and, as I say, that first race would have just knocked any cobwebs away.”

Bentley also expects consistent gallopers Only U and Lo Pan Spirit to run bold races in the Class Four Panasonic Rice Cooker Handicap (1,400m) and Class Three Panasonic Washer Dryer Handicap (1,400m), respectively. Jolly Jumper and Stormy Grove are Bentley’s other rides.