Shanwah will set out on what trainer Douglas Whyte hopes is a path to the Hong Kong Derby (2,000m) when he has his first start in the city at Sha Tin this Sunday.

Third behind Aeliana and Firm Agreement in April’s Group One Australian Derby (2,400m) at Randwick when trained by Ciaron Maher, Shanwah makes his Hong Kong debut in the Class Two Santa Monica Handicap (1,400m).

“He raised the flag with his third in the Australian Derby and we persevered and fortunately enough we got him,” said Whyte of Shanwah, who is owned by the Douglas J Whyte Trainer Syndicate.

“I’m just glad to get him to the races. It’s been a bit of a rushed preparation but he’s done enough to face his first run.

“He’s a lovely horse. I’ve sat on him and the jockeys have given me good comments about him. Hopefully he’ll run a nice race and he’ll improve from that.”

While Shanwah’s biggest wins came in the Group Two Autumn Classic (1,800m) and the Group Two Alister Clark Stakes (2,040m), he did win a maiden over 1,600m and has shown some zip at the trials.

After one 1,000m trial down the Sha Tin straight, Shanwah moved well when running a close sixth in a 1,200m hit-out on the Conghua turf.

“I thought it was a good trial. He got held up late but, again, the comments were positive and he’s done enough to go into his first run,” said Whyte.

Shanwah’s feats in Australia have earned him a Hong Kong rating of 83, a difficult mark to make an impact off first up even before taking into account the strength of this weekend’s race.

Victor The Winner, Light Years Charm, Healthy Happy, Steps Ahead and Chiu Chow Spirit are among Shanwah’s opponents, with the galloper to jump from gate nine under Richard Kingscote.

“That’s just typical Hong Kong. You can’t hide away or shy away from anything – that’s what you have to face and he’s got a big task,” said Whyte.

On the flip side, Shanwah’s rating virtually assures him a run in Hong Kong’s prestigious four-year-old races – the Classic Mile, Classic Cup (1,800m) and the Derby.

“Points are not an issue. Hopefully he handles the conditions and circumstances, runs a good race and we’re on our way,” said Whyte.

Shanwah is not Whyte’s only previously raced import debuting in Hong Kong this weekend, with Colourful Gan stepping out in the Class Three Neogence Handicap (1,400m) after four starts for two wins in Australia.

Formerly trained by David Hayes’ sons Ben, Will and JD, Colourful Gan begins his Hong Kong career on a rating of 66 and will be ridden by Hollie Doyle from gate six.

Whyte’s best chances of success look to come in the form of his other two runners, however, with Giant Ballon lining up in the Class Four Grace One Handicap (1,000m) and Strathpeffer tackling the Class Four Elizabeth Arden Handicap (1,400m).

Giant Ballon will be looking to improve on a nice course-and-distance fourth when sent out at $72 on debut last month, while Strathpeffer chases consecutive victories after comfortably saluting on October 4.