Me Tsui had been sitting on 499 career wins for two weeks and 22 runners but hit the 500 when Sky Treasure boxed clear in section two of the Class 4 Hap Mun Bay Handicap (1200m) under Derek Leung.

The handler was beaming as the horse returned to stand beneath the winner's arch but retained his cool and delivered a dose of self-deprecating perspective to the gaggle of reporters.

“Five hundred is not that big of an achievement when someone else already has more than 1000 winners,” he smiled (Moore leads the all-time standings with 1,656 wins).

“The jockey was very aggressive,” he added, “he kept his position on the rail and the horse won very well.”

Tsui did not linger on the 500 mark. The handler moved on to 501 in the next race as Exponents claimed the Class 5 Silvermine Bay Handicap (1200m) under Grant van Niekerk at odds of 21/1.

General Dino wins three in a row

General Dino had to wait until his 25th race to land his first Hong Kong success but the French import has clearly found his groove and made it three on the bounce in the Class 4 Pui O Handicap (1800m).

The five-year-old looked set for second when the Purton-ridden Enfolding rolled up to him in the closing stages but responded to a firm Teetan drive to rally and score by a neck.

“My stable vet just cured up his lung problem and he's a different horse,” trainer David Ferraris said. “He's a very courageous little horse to win in the mud – the other horse had him beaten and he found another gear.”

Michael Chang edged closer to the 16-win benchmark with his 13th success this term. Moreira drove the eight-year-old Grand Harbour to his sixth win at start 84 in section one of the Class 4 Hap Mun Bay Handicap (1200m).