He saluted with one of the more recent arrivals to his stable at Sha Tin on Sunday and now Caspar Fownes will look to keep the ball rolling with one of his veterans during Thursday night’s all-weather meeting at the same venue.

Racing in Hong Kong for the first time after comfortably winning his only previous race start at Ipswich in Queensland in February, Alpha Strike ensured an easy enough watch for Fownes and those who backed him into $2.85 in the Class Three Technics Headphones Handicap (1,000m).

Solidly away from gate nine, Alpha Strike always looked to have things under control racing handy near the rail, eventually prevailing by a neck.

“It was nice. Anything that wins first up you’re always happy with. He’ll be even better around the turn, in my opinion, but we’ve been trialling him down the straight and he was good,” said Fownes of the four-year-old.

“He looked ready-made and he’s got gate speed and we knew first up he wouldn’t be getting it too far wrong – he’d be in the first three or four.

“To win is job done and hopefully he can go on with it now. I think he’s got a little bit more there. He’s a lovely big horse with a great temperament – he’s got the right attitude to mix it in Hong Kong.”

Fownes’ seven-year-old Karma will also race in Class Three but only because Thursday night’s Pyramid Hill Handicap (1,650m) is open to gallopers rated 85-60.

The 83-rated Karma tackles the all-weather surface for the first time in his first run since experiencing lameness in March.

“He’s finally back to the races. He’s had three trials on the dirt and he’s always acquitted himself well. It looks like he enjoys that sort of surface, so it’s a good starting race for him,” said Fownes.

“He’s in good form and he’s got gate seven, so he should be hitting the line hard. It’s a good opportunity to see what he’s like under racing conditions compared to trackwork.”

While Karma, who has won five times on the Sha Tin turf, must lump top weight of 135lb, his recent effort in a 1,200m Sha Tin dirt trial suggests he is ready to make an impact first up.

After cornering a long last in a crack hit-out featuring Helios Express, Invincible Sage, Raging Blizzard, Mugen, Light Years Charm and Dazzling Fit, Karma powered home down the outside to pass all but Dazzling Fit.

Karma is not the only Fownes-trained runner entering Thursday’s meeting off a nice trial in strong company either, with Charming Steed looking capable of improvement in the Class Four Tin Ha Shan Handicap (1,650m) after running second behind Beauty Waves in a recent hit-out.

Also among Fownes’ midweek hand is last-start winner Daily Trophy in the second section of the Class Four Shek Uk Shan Handicap (1,200m), while Glory Cloud, No Other Choice and Super Sicario are the handler’s other chances of adding to his 14 winners so far this season.