Jamie Richards has high hopes Magniac and Seasons Wit can add to their good records on the dirt when they tackle Wednesday night’s Class Two Hong Kong Chinese Importers’ And Exporters’ Association 70th Birthday Cup (1,200m).

The Kiwi handler will launch a two-pronged attack on the strongest race at Sha Tin’s all-weather track meeting, with his charges taking on the likes of Gummy Gummy, Wonder Kit and Bundle Of Charm.

Magniac was a dominant winner of the Class Three Flamingo Handicap (1,200m) on the dirt in January and will be out to bounce back from his disappointing 11th to Bon’s A Pearla at Happy Valley last start.

The Lucky Street gelding again showed his affinity with all-weather surfaces in a Conghua trial on March 21, leading all the way to score by three lengths.

Seasons Wit chases his first triumph on the dirt after falling narrowly short at his first attempt, running a nose second to Xponential in the Class Two Choi Hung Handicap (1,200m) in December.

The son of Capitalist was only beaten two and a half lengths when seventh to Beauty Charge in the Class Two Soko Islands Handicap (1,200m) at Happy Valley last start.

“They’re both pretty effective on the dirt, so hopefully they can perform well,” Richards said.

“Magniac’s had a bit of a freshen up and trialled well. Seasons Wit didn’t have a lot of luck last start at the Valley. Hopefully they should be good chances.”

While Seasons Wit will lump top weight of 135 pounds, Magniac will carry only 115 pounds after Richards opted to utilise Angus Chung Yik-lai’s five-pound claim.

“[Magniac] has got the claim, so he’s not going to carry any weight. Hopefully he can run well,” Richards said.

Richards’ confidence was boosted when Magniac, who also won at Happy Valley 12 months ago, drew barrier one in the field of eight.

Antoine Hamelin will ride Seasons Wit, who jumps from gate five.

Richards also has solid claims on Wednesday night with Hinokami Kagura in the second section of the Class Four Ting Kau Handicap (1,200m) and Alacrity in the Class Three Rambler Channel Handicap (1,650m).

Champion jockey Zac Purton will for the first time team up with Hinokami Kagura, who has shown improved form since switching to the dirt with a close second and fourth at his past two starts.

“Hinokami Kagura is going along OK,” Richards said. “Hopefully he can run well again. He’s shown in his last couple of starts that he’s effective on the dirt. He’s still a bit immature that horse, he’s still a bit light and a bit long, but he’s got a future in front of him, particularly when he has a break through the summer.”

A dual placegetter on the dirt this season, Alacrity will also be ridden by Hamelin but his chances were dealt a blow when he drew barrier 12.

“He’s consistent without winning,” Richards said. “We saw this extended Class Three race, rating 85 to 60, and that appealed, so we thought we’d have a crack at it.

“He trialled pretty well the other day at Conghua, just had a maintenance trial so we’ll keep chipping away with him.”

Super Hornet and Manythanks Forever are Richards’ other starters on Wednesday night.

G Liner could arguably have been the handler’s best chance in pursuit of a third straight victory on the dirt, but he was left on the outer of the Class Four Stonecutters Island Handicap (1,600m) field as the second standby starter.