Trainers' championship battle between John Size and David Hayes heats up
Australian handlers threaten to separate from the pack in pursuit of premiership glory this season
A tense battle for championship glory is developing at the top of the trainers' table, with John Size and David Hayes threatening to separate themselves from the pack this term.
No strangers to premiership success, the Australians are tied on 36 wins with 12-time champion Size holding the ascendancy with four more seconds than dual champion Hayes.
While Size eyeing a record-extending 13th title is no surprise, the manner in which he has surged into contention has been quite remarkable.
The 70-year-old is generally a slow starter, with his gallopers improving with a run or two under their belts, but he was battling in the lower half of the standings with just five wins from the opening three months of the campaign.
He has since been on a relentless hot streak, soaring to the title lead after a Sha Tin four-timer on February 23 before trading blows with Hayes in the past three weeks.
Hayes has been a more constant presence at the top of this season's standings, with the world's best sprinter, Ka Ying Rising, leading the 62-year-old's charge.
Last season's pulsating premiership finale between Francis Lui Kin-wai and Pierre Ng Pang-chi, in which the former won four of the final five races to eclipse his former protégé by a solitary victory, will be hard to beat in terms of a blockbuster finish.
However, the race between Size and Hayes is shaping up as a mouth-watering one after 51 of the 88 meetings.
As for Sha Tin this Sunday, the handlers don't have their strongest teams engaged but Size could add to his premiership lead.
Outstanding last-start winner Brilliant Express, Bundle Award and Sweet Smile will have solid claims for the stable.
Hayes will rely on a pair of impressive triallers, Top Throne and Akashvani, overcoming wide draws on their race debuts, while Stellar Swift could be an improver dropping back to Class Four company.
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