Tony Cruz unveiled ambitious plans for Stunning Peach after the high-profile import snapped a 621-day winning drought in Thursday’s Class Two Year Of The Horse Cup (1,600m) at Sha Tin.

Winless since his lone Hong Kong success in June 2024, the dual Group One placegetter produced a tough performance to outlast Hong Kong Derby (2,000m) hopeful Top Dragon and provide jockey Angus Chung Yik-lai with a much-needed boost.

Sent off a $5.9 chance, Stunning Peach relished his light weight of 116lb to charge from just behind midfield and beat the $2 favourite, Top Dragon, by a short head.

Despite falling short of lofty expectations so far in his Hong Kong career, Cruz hasn’t lost confidence in Stunning Peach and believes the five-year-old will figure in feature races in the future.

“I’ve got big ideas for him. I always thought he was a good horse,” Cruz said.

“He got injured at Happy Valley [in 2024] and now he’s recovered, I’m aiming for the top – I’m aiming for Group races in Hong Kong and when he wins Group races, I would consider looking overseas with this horse.

“He had a light weight today. The last time he ran he had 135lb. Today, he had 116lb – that tells the tale.

“With that light weight, these other horses don’t stand a chance. He was getting weight off every horse.

“Angus rode a perfect race from his good draw [in barrier four] and the weight was such a big advantage today – it was massive even though the distance was too short.”

An elated Chung, who is in the midst of a tough season with 12 winners so far, pumped his fist and screamed in joy past the post after the success.

“It was a tough win. The second horse was inside me and the way the race panned out, it was just stuck on the inside. I’m glad I had my barrier and not his one,” Chung said.

“I’m happy for this horse because the expectations were quite high on him. He has been a bit disappointing in his second season here but today is a very special day – Chinese New Year – and he got the win and I’m very happy.”

Stunning Peach could only manage 10th behind Cap Ferrat in last year’s Derby but showed a breakthrough win was imminent with a pair of placings this term.

He was no doubt an expensive buy for owners the Mahogany Syndicate after two wins and three seconds in Ireland when known as Islandsinthestream and trained by Joseph O’Brien.

Top Dragon, who holds an entry for next month’s Derby, went down fighting after being momentarily held up for a clear run at the 300m.

Another Derby entrant Regal Gem stormed home from last to run a distant third, beaten almost three lengths.

Cruz’s day got even better when he bagged a quinella in the Class Three Red Packet Handicap (2,000m), with Gentlemen Legacy narrowly accounting for Liveandletlive in a thrilling finish.

Ridden by Hugh Bowman, Gentlemen Legacy had an ideal trip one off in fourth before looming ominously to challenge the pacesetter Liveandletlive in the straight.

The pair went to the line virtually locked together, with the photo going the way of Australian import Gentlemen Legacy.

He also capped a double for Bowman who struck earlier on Caspar Fownes’ debutant Papaya Brose in the third section of the Class Four Fat Choi Handicap (1,200m).