Champions Way begins season in Panasonic Cup Handicap

Champions Way, who won six of seven starts during the 2018-2019 racing season, his first in Hong Kong, tops the Class 1 Panasonic Cup Handicap, the featured race Saturday at Sha Tin as the Hong Kong venue departs from its typical Sunday afternoon programming.

Champions Way is one of five John Size-trained entrants in this 1,400-meter handicap. He sits atop the race ratings at 108, a massive jump from the mark of 52 at which he began last Hong Kong season, and all Size’s starters rate among the top eight in a field of 13.

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Champions Way has the Hong Kong Derby next spring on his agenda provided he can stay beyond one mile. The jury still is out in that regard but the Australian-bred 3-year-old closed for second at 1,600 meters in his first try out at that distance last season and won his second race at the trip, landing the Group 3 Lion Rock Trophy in his final race before a break leading into Saturday’s start.

While Champions Way (Joao Moreira to ride) must tote top weight of 133 pounds in a race he’ll likely need on his way to full fitness, another Size entrant, Nothingilikemore, gets in at 132 pounds despite dropping in class from six straight starts between the Group 1 and Group 3 level down to a straight handicap. Nothingilikemore is on an eight-race losing streak but has run into Hong Kong champion Beauty Generation in both his races this season.

Also rated 108, same as Nothingilikemore, is 6-year-old John Moore-trained Good Standing, who last May won a Sha Tin race by 2 1/4 lengths under these same conditions and stands to improve upon his last-race comeback run.