Hong Kong: Size looks to stay hot in three Class 3 handicaps at Happy Valley

Take a straw poll of Hong Kong racing people and John Size probably would come up as the best trainer on the circuit. Calculating, measured, and patient, Size, an Australian export, for years has churned out a steady stream of winners, and after a sluggish start to the 2021-22 Hong Kong season his stable is rolling again.

On Nov. 24, Size ran one-two in the Happy Valley feature with Scores of Fun and Drops of God, and he pulled the same feat Nov. 28 at Sha Tin, where Silver Express under Victor Borges beat favored Excellent Proposal under Joao Moreira in the featured Class 1 Chevalier Cup Handicap. Excellent Proposal not only gave 11 pounds to his Size-trained stablemate but also had a luckless trip, getting stopped badly in upper stretch when trying to squeeze between horses. That Excellent Proposal regained his stride and managed to finish second spoke to his improved performance in his second start this season; Size said later that Excellent Proposal and Lucky Express, who was sixth in the same race, would race Dec. 12 in the Group 1 Hong Kong Mile, where they’ll face local superstar Golden Sixty.

On a more mundane plane, Size has runners for three Class 3 handicaps, the highest-class fare on this week’s eight-race Wednesday program at Happy Valley.

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In race 6, a 1,000-meter dash, Size sends out 3-year-old Escape Route, an Irish import making just his second start in Hong Kong. With Moreira named, Escape Route races for the first time in ear plugs after finishing seventh in his Nov. 17 Hong Kong debut, a race at this class level and distance.

Escape Route will need considerable improvement he might not find on the day, but Leap of Faith, Size’s entrant in race 8, looks ready to win this 1,800-meter Class 3 – provided he’s willing. Leap of Faith won his first and last start during his 2020-21 campaign, losing nine races between those bookend successes. But in his two Happy Valley starts at this approximately nine-furlong trip, Leap of Faith has a three-length win and a nose loss, and he’ll appreciate cutting back from a 2,000-meter contest at Sha Tin. Zac Purton has the mount.

Special M carries the Size banner into race 9, a Class 3 over 1,200 meters. Another 3-year-old Irish import, Special M struggled through four starts last Hong Kong season but has shown signs of life in two races this term. Moreira rides, and Special M gets in light at just 119 pounds. He’ll have to contend with another Irish import, 4-year-old You’remyeverything, a sharp one-length Class 3 winner at this class level and distance making his Hong Kong debut for trainer Tony Cruz on Nov. 10.

First post for the card is 5:45 a.m. Eastern. Live video and wagering is available at DRFBets.com.