A third crack at the Longines Hong Kong International Races (HKIR) and a return to Qatar loom as Russian Emperor’s major goals through the first half of the 2023-24 season after the three-time Group One winner made an easy return to the trials at Sha Tin on Tuesday morning.

Triumphant when last seen at the races in May’s Champions & Chater Cup (2,400m) – his second consecutive win in the season’s final Group One – Russian Emperor is pleasing Whyte ahead of his fourth Hong Kong campaign.

The regally bred gelding, who began his career with Aidan O’Brien, moved well under Hugh Bowman in his trial over an unsuitable 1,000m on the Sha Tin turf.

“He was just out there to have a hit-out. He’s summered well, and he’s looking great. Hugh was happy. He wasn’t there to break any records. It was just to get the ring rustiness out of him and get him back on track,” Whyte said.

Like he did last season, Russian Emperor will resume in the Group Two Sha Tin Trophy (1,600m) on October 15 before a potential run in the Group Two Jockey Club Cup (2,000m) in November.

Russian Emperor’s two HKIR assignments have come in the Group One Hong Kong Cup (2,000m) – a close third in 2021 and a solid fifth last year – but Whyte did not rule out the possibility of tackling the Group One Hong Kong Vase (2,400m) this December.

“The plan is the mile next month, and then we’ll see after that where he goes,” Whyte said.

All going well, focus will then shift to Russian Emperor’s February defence of his Qatar Group One H.H. The Amir Trophy (2,400m) crown.

“If he races well and he’s healthy, that’s definitely the plan at this stage,” Whyte said.

More immediately, Whyte has tasted success at the first two Happy Valley meetings of the season and he will look to keep that run going with his four-strong hand on Wednesday night.

All of Whyte’s runners are early in proceedings, and he is hopeful Double Show might be able to kick things off on a winning note in the night’s first event.

Fifth over the Sha Tin 1,400m on September 17, 21-start maiden Double Show tackles the Happy Valley 1,650m for the first time in the seven-runner first section of the Class Five Swallow Handicap.

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“He’s running over the 1,650m, which in my opinion he’s wanting, but he just hasn’t been mentally up for it yet. But he’ll run well. He’s in good form,” said Whyte, who has three wins from 30 runners this campaign.

“It’s started nicely, and there’s still a whole lot of horses I’ve got to get going. But it’s always nice to bag a couple of wins, especially with the older horses, and I’m happy with the way things are ticking along.”

Meanwhile, Zac Purton has been booked to ride In Secret for Godolphin in October 14’s The Everest (1,200m), the same day he will partner Light Infantry in the Group One King Charles III Stakes (1,600m).