Chill Chibi took another significant step towards the HK$26 million BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m) in March after Danny Shum’s talented young stayer overpowered older rivals to win the Class 3 Dunnottar Castle Handicap (1800m) at Happy Valley on Wednesday night.

With four wins and a narrow second from five starts, Chill Chibi has emerged as a leading contender for the lucrative 2024 Four-Year-Old Classic Series, which features the Hong Kong Classic Mile (1600m) on 4 February, the Hong Kong Classic Cup (1800m) on 3 March and the BMW Hong Kong Derby on 24 March.

Shum, who tasted BMW Hong Kong Derby success with Romantic Warrior in 2022, confirmed Chill Chibi would continue towards the blue-riband contest after the Wrote gelding fanned to the outside of the 10-horse field and charging from last approaching the turn to win arrogantly under Jerry Chau.

“He’s a nice horse and he's getting better day by day. Even though he carried top weight (133lb), I was still confident he could win the race,” Shum said.

“I can enter him (next) over 2000m at Sha Tin or run him in a 1650m Class 2 at Happy Valley. After that, we'll give him a bit of a break and go straight to the Derby. I will talk to Jerry tomorrow morning and decide which one is the best for him.”

Asked if the four-year-old was the best horse he had ridden, Chau said: “I think so, he’s got potential. He’s a fantastic horse, he’s got a good heart and every time he fights for me.

“The early stages (tonight), he can’t catch up with the pace but when I started to ask him to go – I didn’t want to get into a traffic jam – and he showed his talent.”

Bred by the Hong Kong Breeders Club, Chill Chibi was an $80,000 purchase out of Highview Stud’s 2021 New Zealand Bloodstock Book 2 Yearling Sale draft.