It is rare to see a first season trainer so high on our ratings but David Eustace has found the top of the chart after less than three months of the season.
It's an unusual-looking set of trainer ratings right now, with Eustace heading second season handlers Mark Newnham and Cody Mo. The former Australian-based trainer has sent out 6 winners from his first 46 starters, a small sample, but a comparable start to the debuts of both John Size and David Hayes, though he still has work to do to match Frankie Lor's phenomenal 23 winners from his first 100 starters.
There is movement on the jockey table, too, with James McDonald, freshly-crowned Longines World's Best Jockey for a second time, making an immediate impact and slicing into Zac Purton's lead.
McDonald won't be in HK long enough to trouble Purton for a championship, but the start of his 6-week stint shows that could be a different story if the Kiwi rider makes HK his home, as most expect in the near future.
McDonald had good historical figures and has hit the ground running this time with 6 wins from 24 rides and it is conceivable that he could displace Purton as the top-rated rider, however briefly, during the next month.​​
(Note, apprentice jockey ratings reflect performances with their allowance "built in". As their claim reduces and they compete on a more equal footing, we expect their rating to deteriorate unless they are top class riders.)
​These ratings are updated regularly and designed to reflect current form but with past figures also putting a brake on hot-streak performers or uplifting a long-term quality player having a quiet run.