Eight days after Bulb General’s “heartbreaking” blow which ruled him out of the Classic Series, Jamie Richards gained some compensation when Goldentronicmighty returned from throat surgery to score first up at Sha Tin on Sunday.

A leading contender for the upcoming four-year-old series after three dominant wins in a row, Bulb General sustained a right fore ligament injury which will put him out of action until late this season.

“He was the horse that I was hoping was going to fill the stable back up again,” said a sombre Richards. “But anyway, that’s racehorses – you’ve just got to ride the highs and the lows.

“He’s going to have surgery tomorrow. We’ll take the chip out of his fetlock and give him a bit of time.

“That was a 50-50 call whether he needed surgery but we just thought long term, rather than trying to rush him for the four-year-old series, we’d give him a chance and he’ll be ready to race at the end of the season, hopefully.

“[The stable] is ticking along nicely, but it’s heartbreaking when you lose your best one.”

Despite limping with his own injury – a rolled ankle – Richards had a reason to smile when Goldentronicmighty defied his $19.7 quote to claim the Class Four Panashop Handicap (1,200m).

Ridden by Keith Yeung Ming-lun, the son of Harry Angel settled midfield and ran on to snatch the lead from the $2.2 favourite Do Your Part inside the 100m. He held on to beat the fast-finishing Sunny Q by a nose.

“He’s a big horse that had wind surgery in the off-season and that’s really, really helped him. I must thank the vets for doing such a good job,” Richards said.

“He sounded like a tractor last year when he was galloping and now he sounds a lot better. He’s getting more oxygen and that’s giving him a chance to race better.

“He trialled well up at the Valley on Saturday morning and although he started at the long price, we were sort of quietly confident that he was ready to run well but might need one run back.”

Goldentronicmighty was Yeung’s fourth win from 25 rides for Richards, with all of those victories coming for owner Jason Chow Wang-yuen. Yeung also booted home Goldentronicmighty in back-to-back Sha Tin races last season, while his other winner for the same connections was Tronic Mighty in 2022.

Poon Train rolls on

Matthew Poon Ming-fai bagged his second win of the season in the biggest upset of the term so far, guiding $68.9 roughie Time To Fire to victory in the Class Four Panasonic Smart Lock Handicap (1,600m).

A week after breaking his long drought of 141 losing rides aboard Gracious Express, Poon caught punters by surprise when the David Hall-trained Time To Fire stormed home from near last to nail Bright Inheritance by a short head.

The Time Test gelding’s best run from five previous starts was a sixth last season.

“When he’s drawn [barrier 12] and he’s going to be back last, it’s always hard to have that sort of confidence, but I knew he had a big improvement in him with the extra distance and the gear change. We were hoping for a surprise,” Hall said.

Dragon dazzles

Chris So Wai-yin will look at raising the bar with Top Dragon after the Classic Series prospect recorded a stylish win in the Class Three Panasonic Washer Dryer Handicap (1,400m).

Improving on his first-up third behind Max Que, the Pierata gelding stormed home from well back to account for Anode by a length and a quarter in an impressive display.

Top Dragon flashed potential with back-to-back Sha Tin victories last season and looms as one of the top early contenders for February’s Classic Mile.

“I expected him to run well. Last time he ran well, but I think he just needed the run,” So said.

“Zac [Purton] said the horse was happy in the mornings and working well. I think he’s still got room to improve. I hope in the future he can win a couple more.”

Dylan’s delight

Dylan Mo Hin-tung couldn’t contain his excitement after bringing Winning Wing from a distant last to score a miraculous win in the Class Three Panasonic Vitalift Handicap (2,000m).

Trailing the leader by about 17 lengths at one stage, the Francis Lui Kin-wai-trained Winning Wing launched a powerful run down the outside in the straight to hit the front 100m out.

He prevailed by a neck from Bravehearts, with Mo saluting and pumping his fist after booting home his second winner of the season.