Superstar jockey Joao Moreira is confident Caspar Fownes’ exciting three-year-old Killer Bee can bounce back from a narrow last-start defeat when he steps out at Sha Tin on Saturday.

After crushing his rivals on debut in March, the son of Savabeel was edged out by Regency Bo Bo at his second start but the Magic Man believes he will take plenty of learnings from that experience.

“He was [grabbed] just on the line and he put in a good performance, unfortunately he didn’t win but there is always another day,” Moreira said.

“He was a bit keen and that was a bit of a concern but I’m sure Caspar did some good work around it to make sure at the next start he doesn’t do the same. He feels like a very nice horse, he’s such a big, strong individual and I’d be very surprised if he doesn’t run a good race.

“He’s got pedigree, he’s got size and he’s got character so he’s the kind of horse that gets us very excited.”

After that most recent effort on April 5, Fownes sent Killer Bee back to the trials and Moreira continued to educate him about racing.

“When I rode him at the trials he found himself behind other horses, which was very good,” he said. “It gave us a chance to feel how he would behave behind others. He kept on coming [after that] and finished the trial very well.

“I think we’re looking good where he is at the moment in regards to fitness and, based on that trial, I’m very happy with him.”

Killer Bee finds a very winnable race in the Class Three Balsamine Handicap (1,200m), with only four of his 10 rivals having saluted in Hong Kong before.

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He’s drawn barrier seven and Moreira expects him to be in the right position to show what he’s capable of.

“He’s got natural speed and he’ll put himself among the top four horses, the only thing that I would like to have with him is to get cover, so I can make sure to save that energy to use it at the finish,” he said.

“If the circumstances play that way I think he will be able to let down and finish the race off very strongly.”

Moreira, who has a full book of 10 rides on the day, continues his partnership with Tony Millard’s dirt specialist Elusive State, who competes in the Class Two Carnation Handicap (1,650m).

The seven-year-old was dominant over this course and distance in January but didn’t have the same vigour when fourth last start.

This field is virtually a carbon copy of that race – the first six over the line, including Glorious Artist, Preciousship, Hongkong Great and Kings Shield, are back – so Elusive State will be in the mix again.

“He’s a very unlucky horse to be that good on the dirt because we don’t have too many dirt races here,” Moreira said.

“Last time was a good run, he needs to once again bring his A game because there is going to be some competition.

“That horse of Danny Shum [Chap-shing’s], Hongkong Great, seems to be pretty good and he’s going to make it tough. Elusive State has just got to bring his best.”