In the midst of a frustrating winning drought, Jamie Richards is hopeful Seasons Wit’s return to his favourite course and distance will change his fortunes at Happy Valley on Wednesday night.

The accomplished New Zealand handler is on a winless streak of 59 runners, with his last trip to the winner’s enclosure on March 20 when Courier Magic scored his second straight victory at Happy Valley.

Richards, who also had a challenging start to his second season in Hong Kong, remains optimistic his luck will change.

“It’s been a bit of a frustrating month, but hopefully it will turn at some stage,” said Richards, who has prepared 24 winners this term.

“We’ve just got to keep our chin up and keep turning up. Hopefully we’re due a bit of a change of luck.”

Seasons Wit headlines Richards’ team of eight runners at the city circuit when he contests the Class Two Korea Racing Authority Trophy (1,000m).

The Capitalist gelding has a sensational record of four wins - all in succession - and two seconds at the course and distance.

He finished last season with a hat-trick at Class Three level, before continuing his winning spree with an emphatic three-length romp in the Class Two Kwangtung Cup (1,000m) first-up in October.

Since then, Seasons Wit has produced mixed form at a range of tracks and predominantly over 1,200m, with his best result a close second to Xponential on the all-weather track at Sha Tin.

However, Richards pencilled in Wednesday night’s race for Seasons Wit several months ago.

“We’ve been waiting for it,” Richards said.

“He had a really good season last year and skyrocketed up the ratings. He won well in the early part of the season and then there’s been a lack of suitable races for him, especially up in Class Two.

“But he’s been running OK, he’s dropped a few points and gets back to his favourite course and distance. He’s drawn a nice gate (two), he appears to be in good health and hopefully everything can go well for him on Wednesday night.”

In a boost to Richards’ confidence, champion jockey Zac Purton will reunite with Seasons Wit in a competitive sprint featuring the likes of Duke Wai, Whizz Kid, Nervous Witness, Harmony N Blessed and Humble Star.

“He’s got Zac back on him who clicks with him well,” Richards said, referring to Purton’s record of four wins and three seconds from nine rides on Seasons Wit.

“He’s got a bit of a tendency to sometimes be a bit slow away from the barrier. Zac usually gets him to jump pretty well, so hopefully that will be the case on Wednesday night. There’s going to be a lot of pace in that race with Nervous Witness and a few others in there. Hopefully he can jump away well, get a nice, smooth run and if he does that, hopefully he can be a nice chance.”

Happy United, Super Hornet, Ma Comet, Fortune Cookies, Molly’s Witness, Happy Feeling and Kimberley are Richards’ other runners on Wednesday night.

Despite not boasting any runners in Sunday’s three Group Ones at Sha Tin, Richards is looking forward to FWD Champions Day.

“We won’t have any runners, but it’s great to be a part of world-class racing here in Hong Kong,” he said.

“[Champions Day] is something we are striving to be a part of and hopefully we will be in seasons to come.”