March 5 KL trackwork by horses running in March 9 meeting

Winners hailing everywhere from ex-Macau trainer - two at races, ditto at barrier trials

- Brian Miller

Even at this early stage of proceedings, one thing seems obvious. Ricky Choi harbours high hopes and is dead serious about taking the trainer's premiership at his first full season in Malaysia.

So far, you could say that the former Macau-based conditioner has been building a huge fan base among racegoers.

Right now, he sits joint-second on the table with nine winners. That is two adrift of Simon Dunderdale and level with Richard Lines.

Choi pulled off a double at the recently concluded meeting on March 1 and, as if to prove that it was no fluke, he produced two winners at the trials held on the morning of March 4.