Latest news with #JohnSize
South China Morning Post
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- South China Morning Post
Helios Express digs deep to nail Invincible Sage in pulsating Sha Tin Vase finish
Helios Express (outside) rockets home to beat Invincible Sage in the Group Three Sha Tin Vase. Photos: Kenneth Chan After seven straight placings behind Ka Ying Rising, John Size's sprinter breaks through with narrow Group Three success Snapping a streak of seven consecutive placings behind Ka Ying Rising, Helios Express dug deep to chase down Invincible Sage for a heart-stopping victory in Saturday's Group Three Sha Tin Vase (1,200m). Sent off the $2.05 favourite in his bid for a breakthrough success, the John Size-trained gelding launched a withering burst from last to deny $20 shot Invincible Sage in a bob of the heads on the finishing post. Hugh Bowman took Helios Express back from the outside draw in the field of 11 and was still at the tail at the 200m, as Ben Thompson made his move on Invincible Sage from midfield to shoot to the lead. Helios Express arrived just in time for a deserved win after five seconds and two thirds behind the world's best sprinter, Ka Ying Rising, who was absent from Saturday's feature. Helios Express charges from the rear to overhaul Invincible Sage in the G3 Sha Tin Vase! 🏆 @HugeBowman #LoveRacing | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) May 31, 2025 'Only just,' Bowman said of the short-head margin. 'I've had a lot to do with the second horse, Invincible Sage, and they both got the soft track conditions which suited both horses and you've seen them both run to their premium. 'My horse had to overcome the [on-speed] bias. I knew that going out but I was reluctant to change [Helios Express'] pattern because with the handicap, I thought he was well in with the 123lb. 'He thoroughly deserved it. He's been chasing the champ all season and with his absence, he was the number one seed and he came out in front.' A brilliant winner of last year's Classic Mile and Classic Cup (1,800m), Helios Express delivered Size his second Sha Tin Vase triumph following the handler's success with Courier Wonder in 2021. Switched to sprinting after his four-year-old campaign, the son of Toronado was runner-up to Ka Ying Rising in Group One features the Hong Kong Sprint (1,200m), Centenary Sprint Cup (1,200m) and Queen's Silver Jubilee Cup (1,400m). 'He certainly deserves this win. He's tried very hard all season to win a decent race and finally he got it done. He found a race that was suitable for him,' Size said. Patch Of Theta, who was brown-lamped late in betting from $9.1 to $3.7, ran on strongly from second last to grab third, almost two lengths behind Helios Express. Multiple Group One winner Lucky Sweynesse ran fourth under top weight of 135lb. Size said Helios Express might not be done for the season, with a crack at the Group Three Premier Cup (1,400m) on June 22 a possibility. 'I'll see what he's like at home. After his last start [when third in the Chairman's Sprint Prize], he showed me he really wasn't looking for a break so we'll see how he pulls up after this race,' Size said. After also winning Saturday's Class Three Tai Wai Handicap (1,200m) with Masterofmyuniverse, Size gained a bit of breathing room in his battle with David Hayes for the trainers' championship. With 60 wins, Size extended his lead to seven over Hayes, who struck in the Class Five Shing Mun River Channel Handicap (1,400m) with Lucky Man courtesy of a gun ride by Bowman. Trainer David Hall bounced back from Invincible Sage's narrow defeat to claim the following race with Ka Ying Attack, ending his long winning drought at 60. Mark Newnham and Lyle Hewitson also snared doubles, teaming up to win Saturday's two dirt races with New Forest and Talents Ambition, while Luke Ferraris chimed in with a brace of his own aboard Dazzling Fit and Tourbillon Prince.
South China Morning Post
5 days ago
- General
- South China Morning Post
Hugh Bowman bullish Helios Express can strike in absence of Ka Ying Rising in Sha Tin Vase
Helios Express (purple and gold silks) finishes close behind Ka Ying Rising and Satono Reve in the Group One Chairman's Sprint Prize. Photos: Kenneth Chan Hugh Bowman has supreme confidence in Helios Express capitalising on the absence of superstar Ka Ying Rising and a light weight when the talented sprinter chases a deserved win in Saturday's Group Three Sha Tin Vase (1,200m). A brilliant winner of last year's Classic Mile and Classic Cup (1,800m), Helios Express has had to settle for five seconds and two thirds behind Ka Ying Rising in his seven starts this season. That streak includes three Group One seconds and a last-start third in the Group One Chairman's Sprint Prize (1,200m) when he rocketed home from last. With Ka Ying Rising sent for a break, the Sha Tin Vase presents a golden opportunity for the John Size-trained Helios Express to break through at Group level. While Bowman conceded the outside draw in the field of 11 was far from ideal, Helios Express' top form and weight of 123lbs has the Australian bullish. HE DOES IT AGAIN! 🚀 Ka Ying Rising makes it 12 straight wins, four Group 1s and a HK$5 million Speed Series bonus with victory in the 2025 Chairman's Sprint Prize... @zpurton #FWDChampionsDay | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) April 27, 2025 'I think he's very well placed,' Bowman said. 'Barrier 11 isn't really what I was after. In saying that, he settles back and the more he settles and finds his feet, the better he runs anyway. 'He's been unreal this season. I thought his last run was his best and on his most recent trial, I think he's in the best form he's been in all season and he's got a very attractive set up, despite the wide draw. I'm sure he'll start a short-priced favourite and deservedly so. I hope he can get it done for us.' Multiple Group One winner Lucky Sweynesse, who carries top weight of 135lbs, and fellow Group One victors Invincible Sage and Victor The Winner are among Helios Express' rivals on Saturday. 'If Invincible Sage gets moisture in the ground like he did last time, he's just a different horse,' said Bowman, who guided the David Hall-trained sprinter to victory in last year's Chairman's Sprint Prize. 'There's some worthy opposition in the race so we won't discard them, but Helios is in good order, he trialled well last week and with Lucky Sweynesse in the race, he gets the weight advantage as well.' Bowman will chase a feature double for Size on Saturday when he rides last-start Group One Champions Mile winner Red Lion in the Group Three Lion Rock Trophy (1,600m). The consistent galloper caused a massive upset when narrowly beating subsequent Triple Crown hero, Voyage Bubble, at $90.8 on Champions Day. However, the elite-level success has thrust him into the role of Lion Rock Trophy top weight. 'That makes it very hard. You're giving good horses a lot of weight,' Bowman said. 'Barrier one will help him – he'll have less work to do in the early stages. But I would think he's probably going to have to run better than he ran last start to win with the weight. That's my honest opinion.' Second in the jockeys' premiership with 64 wins, Bowman will also ride Lucky Man, Straight To Glory, Prestige Hall, Precision Goal, Excel Wongchoy and Size's promising sprinter Crossborderpegasus at Sha Tin. 'Crossborderpegasus is an exciting young horse who's progressing well,' Bowman said of the winner at three of four starts. 'He continues to have a habit of laying in, which hasn't improved and is a little concerning. But if he can start to get his race sense going, he's got points in hand.'
South China Morning Post
25-05-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
John Size shrugs off mini-drought to land Hong Kong win 1,600: ‘I've taken my time'
It was all smiles for John Size after bagging his 1600th winner at Sha Tin. Photos: Kenneth Chan John Size ended a frustrating mini-drought at Sha Tin on Sunday to celebrate his 1,600th Hong Kong victory and boost his claims of holding off a surging David Hayes in the trainers' championship. Size joined fellow Australian John Moore (1,735 wins) as the only trainers to reach the major milestone in the city when Stellar Express romped home in the Class Three Indigenous Handicap (1,000m). Relief was the overwhelming emotion for the 70-year-old, who halted his winless streak at 36 runners while claiming a crucial win as his battle with Hayes heats up. 'I've taken my time, but finally got there. It's always nice to get some sort of milestone or number up – that's the one today,' said Size, who last tasted success with Perfect Pairing at Happy Valley on May 7. 1⃣,6⃣0⃣0⃣ HONG KONG WINS FOR JOHN SIZE! 👏 Stellar Express brings up a major milestone for our 12-time champion trainer, who becomes the second in history to reach the mark... 🍾 @brentonavdulla @WorldPool | #TripleCrown | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) May 25, 2025 Since landing his first premiership in his debut season in the city in 2000-01, Size has become a legend of Hong Kong racing with a record 12 titles and a host of star gallopers and Group One successes. The Australian Racing Hall of Fame inductee's bid for another title strengthened when he overcame a sluggish start to the campaign to establish a double-digit lead. However, Hayes cut the deficit to four wins when Shamus Storm won Sunday's Class Four Exultant Handicap (1,400m) before Size struck back. 'I'm hanging on by the skin of my teeth. We'll just keep trying,' Size said. HK Racing News Get updates direct to your inbox Sign up Best Bets Racing News By registering you agree to our T&Cs & Privacy Policy Error: Please enter a valid email. The email address is already in use. Please login to subscribe. Error, please try again later. THANK YOU You are one the list. Brenton Avdulla celebrates on John Size's 1600th winner Stellar Express. Jockey Brenton Avdulla was thrilled to help deliver Size his milestone triumph when Stellar Express made all to bolt in by two lengths from the Hayes-trained Metro Power. 'It's worked out well because I was a bit upset, thinking I would miss out on riding it for him because John has gone three or four meetings without a winner when I wasn't riding,' said Avdulla, who has served careless riding suspensions while Size was stranded on 1,599 wins. 'I thought he might have got it when I was off but it's actually an honour to ride the winner that brings up the 1,600th for John and it's great that it's for [owner] Larry Yung [Chi-kin], who's a big supporter. 'It's a brilliant result and hopefully we can help John onto another premiership.' Stellar Express added Sunday's win to his Class Two triumph down the straight in December. A double for Brenton Avdulla took him to the 40-winner mark for the season. Hayes managed to keep pace with Size after Shamus Storm was given a brilliant ride by Zac Purton to win the Class Four Exultant Handicap (1,400m). It was fifth-time lucky for the Shamus Award galloper, who settled towards the rear of the pack before Purton made a move off the turn to box in his main rival Max Que heading into the straight. It was a move that proved crucial, with Shamus Storm getting first run and justifying $2.2 favouritism in the process. The win had Hayes keeping one eye on the championship, while admitting the task had been made a bit tougher after today. 'It's been a bit of a frustrating day. Ka Ying Glory ran faster than the Class One and got beaten, and Fortune Boy I thought was my best of the day and he got scratched at the gate,' said Hayes. 'I need to have a day where I sneak up on him – if I was further away then I wouldn't be able to win.' The win formed part of Purton treble, with Packing Hermod saluting in the Class Two River Verdon Handicap (1,400m) and Top Dragon ending the card in style by claiming the Class Three Oriental Express Handicap (1,400m).
South China Morning Post
18-05-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
David Hayes fires in treble to create ‘glimmer of hope' in title race
Apprentice Ellis Wong and trainer David Hayes are all smiles after Solid Shalaa's Sha Tin victory. Photos: Kenneth Chan David Hayes admits a late-season charge at the trainers' title is a long shot, but the champion handler hasn't given up all hope after reducing John Size's lead to six wins with a treble at Sha Tin on Sunday. Hayes reached a half-century of winners for the season after Oriental Smoke, Solid Shalaa and World Hero scored to potentially add some spice to the premiership battle. 'It is a long shot but there is a glimmer of hope,' said Hayes, who won Hong Kong trainers' championships in 1997-98 and 1998-99. 'I've got a lot of young horses that are going to start running that are trialling well, but basically I have to keep going and John has to stop winning. Every time John trains a winner, it's hard, but it's worth giving it a go. 'I'd definitely love to run second and if John doesn't train a winner or two in the next few weeks and I get a couple, it will get interesting. It's a big margin, but you can dream.' World Hero leads throughout and David Hayes has a treble at Sha Tin! 🔥#LoveRacing | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) May 18, 2025 Hayes credited support from owners for his superb campaign, which has been headlined by superstar sprinter Ka Ying Rising's record-equalling eight wins from as many starts. 'I had a very strong team of young horses but they kept leaving my stable. I lost 40 horses in 18 months and that's almost career-destroying,' Hayes said of his stable departures two seasons ago. 'Luckily we've recovered and we're not losing horses now. That's the only difference that I've seen – that owners I have now are staying, not moving, and some of the big ones are coming back.' HK Racing News Get updates direct to your inbox Sign up Best Bets Racing News By registering you agree to our T&Cs & Privacy Policy Error: Please enter a valid email. The email address is already in use. Please login to subscribe. Error, please try again later. THANK YOU You are one the list. Oriental Smoke kick-started Hayes' three-timer with his first victory since March last year when Zac Purton booted him home in the Class Four Members' Care@HKJC Handicap (1,800m). After a perfect trip in the box seat, the seven-year-old cruised to the lead early in the straight and was eased down late by Purton to cling on by a neck from the fast-finishing Double Win. Oriental Smoke scores under Zac Purton. Solid Shalaa handled the rise to Class Three to make it back-to-back victories with a barnstorming display under Ellis Wong Chi-wang in The Members Cup (1,200m) on dirt. Taken back to third last after a slow start, Solid Shalaa saved ground along the inside rail in the straight and gunned down tearaway leader Packing Bole to score by a neck. The five-year-old has made a strong return from multiple leg injuries with a close second and two wins from three starts this term. 'His form all season really has been terrific and he's an elite dirt horse, I think,' Hayes said. Solid Shalaa (outside) chases down Packing Bole to score. 'He loves this track, loves this distance and Wong rides the horse really well. I have to say it was a great ride. 'I like supporting the younger riders and when they get confident, their seven and 10lbs [claim] is a huge help. At the moment, he's confident on my horses and I'm very happy to use him.' Brown-lamped from $21 to $7.2 late in betting, World Hero landed a plunge when making all under Alexis Badel in the Class Four Sha Tin Clubhouse Handicap (1,400m).
South China Morning Post
15-05-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Andrea Atzeni hoping Bundle Award can complete historic 2,400m double in Champions & Chater Cup
Andrea Atzeni will be hoping Bundle Award can become the first horse to parlay Group Three Queen Mother Memorial Cup (2,400m) success into Group One Champions & Chater Cup (2,400m) glory in the same season when he jumps aboard the progressive galloper for the first time next weekend. Victorious under Zac Purton in the recent Queen Mother Memorial Cup, the John Size-trained Bundle Award will join forces with Atzeni after Purton opted to lock in the ride aboard stablemate Ensued for the final Group One of the Hong Kong season. 'It's a good ride to get,' said Atzeni. 'He's a horse that stays the trip and he's only young. He's done nothing wrong so far and it's a really good ride. 'He won over the mile and a half the last day. I know they didn't go really quick and it turned into a bit of a sprint, but in these mile and a half races they never go a gallop here anyway, so it could set up very similarly and he's a horse who has quite a bit of speed. Stayer on the rise? 👀 Bundle Award outstays rivals to win the six-runner G3 Queen Mother Memorial Cup over 2400m for @zpurton and John Size at Sha Tin! 🏆#LoveRacing | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) May 4, 2025 'He stays but he's got quite a bit of pace, so if it turns into a bit of a sprint like it did the last day, it will suit him.' Atzeni will have his first sit on Bundle Award in a Sha Tin dirt trial on Friday morning, with superstar miler Voyage Bubble and Hong Kong Derby (2,000m) winner Cap Ferrat also using the 1,200m hit-out as a stepping stone to the Champions & Chater Cup. Voyage Bubble, who is looking to sweep the Hong Kong Triple Crown, and British raider Dubai Honour shape as the horses to beat come May 25. 'Voyage Bubble has got to step up in trip, which is obviously a question mark, but with the class that he has, he probably doesn't need to stay to win it,' said Atzeni. The champ Via Sistina claims the G1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes with ease, equalling Winx's record of 7 Group 1's in a season! 🤩 What a mare!@cwallerracing | @mcacajamez | @YulongInvest | @aus_turf_club | @WorldPool — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) April 12, 2025 'Dubai Honour gets this trip very well and last time behind Via Sistina [in the Group One Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2,000m) at Randwick], although he had a bit of a tough trip, he never gave up and kept going all the way to the line. He's a very smart horse.' Triumphant aboard the improving Crimson Flash at Happy Valley on Wednesday night, Italian jockey Atzeni heads to Sha Tin this Sunday with a full book of 10 rides as he chases the one victory he requires to notch a century of Hong Kong successes. Ng shows signs of life Pierre Ng Pang-chi was another to taste success at the city circuit's midweek meeting and it was a much-needed breakthrough for the third-season trainer. A runaway leader in the trainers' title for much of last season before being pipped by Francis Lui Kin-wai at a pulsating season finale, Ng also hit the ground running this campaign before hitting a brick wall in recent months. After enjoying a share of the premiership lead as recently as February, Ng has slid down to eighth on the table after managing only three wins in March and one in April. Cambridge is off the mark in Hong Kong! 🤝 Formerly trained by Aidan O'Brien, the Irish import was G3-placed at @LeopardstownRC before joining Pierre Ng's stable at Sha Tin... 🇮🇪 @JerryChau15 @AtTheRaces | #HappyWednesday | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) May 14, 2025 The victory of Cambridge on Wednesday night was Ng's first in 65 runners and six weeks – the longest drought among the training ranks. While it's well known how difficult it is to contend for titles in consecutive seasons in Hong Kong as horses rise through the ratings to unsustainable marks, Ng's drop off in form has been an alarming one. It will be interesting now whether he can build some late-season momentum or if he saves most of his bullets for another title push next campaign.
