Harry Bentley has high hopes he can help Hot Delight extend his unbeaten record when he rides the boom three-year-old for the first time at Sha Tin on Saturday.

After creating a huge impression in his three starts for Francis Lui Kin-wai, Hot Delight strikes a strong Class Two field in Saturday’s Sai Wan Shan Handicap (1,200m), with his light weight of 115lb paving the way for Bentley to pick up the prized ride from Vincent Ho Chak-yiu.

The son of Too Darn Hot’s dominant victories by almost six lengths combined prompted Lui to compare him to former stable star Golden Sixty at the same time of his career.

“He’s certainly a horse coming through the ranks nicely and he’s been eye-catching in each of his runs to date,” Bentley said.

“It’s easy to get excited with these types who have an unblemished record and I hope to keep that intact.”

Hot Delight clashes with the likes of Crimson Flash, who bids for a third straight win, progressive four-year-old Bulb General, Group One placegetter Lucky With You and consistent performers Patch Of Stars and Young Champion.

A wide draw in barrier 11 also poses a challenge, though Hot Delight has shown tactical versatility in his first three starts.

“Obviously I haven’t spoken to Francis just yet, but it’s a less than ideal gate to have and there seems to be quite a bit of speed in the race, having had a look at it, so we’ll have to discuss tactics and go from there,” Bentley said.

Bentley said a rain-affected dirt track was to blame for Hot Delight’s solid but unspectacular third in a recent trial.

“I’d take it with a pinch of salt whatever the trial looked like, but he certainly gave me a nice feel. The dirt was very wet that day and it wouldn’t have been ideal, but nonetheless I thought it was still a respectable trial,” he said.

Sitting sixth in the jockeys’ championship with 31 wins this season, Bentley has six other rides on the Saturday card with brilliant last-start winner Lucky Man his pick of them.

After bolting in by three lengths in his stable debut for Jimmy Ting Koon-ho, the Shamexpress gelding will bid for back-to-back victories in the Class Four Castle Peak Handicap (1,400m).

“He’s one of those types that needs a good gate and when he wins, he always seems to have that box-seat passage,” Bentley said.

“I will say he’s come on and felt really good in his track work, so hopefully he can go forward again.”

Lucky Man capitalised on a perfect run from gate one to strike last start and has drawn ideally again in barrier three on Saturday. He must offset a 9lb jump in the weights when he carries 127lb.

Secret Ingredient is another solid chance for Bentley, with the David Hayes-trained two-year-old out to go one better than his debut run when he contests the Butterfly Bay Plate (1,000m) for Griffins.

The son of Capitalist kept on solidly to finish a length second to Perfect One in the first Griffin race of the season on April 12.

Ryui Kokoroe, Lucky Year, Kansas and Master Trillion are Bentley’s other rides.

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