Caspar Fownes took home another feature race when Sky Trust resumed his improvement with a dominant performance to win the Class Two Ivy Handicap (1,200m) at Sha Tin on Saturday.

Fownes’ So You Think galloper returned this campaign with a three-length success on wet going and was slapped with a 10lb rise as a result, but he ran with credit in two subsequent runs before returning to the winners’ enclosure in impressive fashion.

One-out and one-back under French jockey Maxime Guyon, the pair always travelled best and after taking over the lead 200m from home, they quickly shot clear to beat Magic Control by one and a half lengths.

Guyon has started his contract with a bang, riding a Group One winner thanks to Sosie in last Sunday’s Hong Kong Vase (2,400m), and Fownes was full of praise for the top rider.

“It was very nice for young Max to get a good ride for us. It’s nice to see a horse like this perform at this Class Two level,” said Fownes.

“It’s quite tough to win at this level but he did a good job, got him in the perfect position one-out, one-back, came into the straight and I thought the last 50m, the horse was quite good and quite strong.

“My expectations are getting higher, he’s obviously going to get probably five or six points which will take him up to 86 or 87, and then it gets tough in Hong Kong.”

That rise may not be enough to stop Sky Trust improving again, however, given his prior wins over the 1,400m and 1,600m distance.

A step up in trip is now on the cards for him and although Fownes may have initially thought a 10lb rise for his devastating victory on reappearance was harsh, he admits that the handicapper might have got things spot on after this success.

“He’s a horse that can go further – he’ll be better at 1,400m – so there are some races coming up and hopefully we can get another win for the owners,” said Fownes.

“They’re lovely owners and very loyal, which is quite a rare thing in Hong Kong, so they’re beautiful people and I appreciate their support.

“Don’t forget, he’s had throat surgery so it’s hard. His first start this season, he copped a big penalty – it was a wet track and he got 10 points, but obviously they were right.”

The win was part of a double for jockey Guyon, who also rode Glaciated to success in the earlier section one of the Class Four Tulip Handicap (1,200m).

Fownes entered the day level on 24 winners with Mark Newnham in the trainers’ premiership race and after briefly taking the lead following Sky Trust’s success, his Aussie rival retook the lead after Invincible Ibis won the concluding Class Three Poinsettia Handicap (1,600m).

The pair are two clear of nearest rival Danny Shum Chap-shing and four clear of David Hayes, with reigning champion and 13-time title winner John Size yet to enter the party with 11 winners on the board so far.