John Size aims to continue championship charge with 11-strong team at Sha Tin

By Declan Schuster

Closing in on a record-extending 13th trainers’ championship in Hong Kong, John Size is preparing to unleash an imposing team of 11 at Sha Tin’s Group 3 double-header programme on Sunday (22 June) as he bids to increase his buffer at the top of the table.

Size has 63 wins, nine ahead of nearest rival and fellow Australian Racing Hall of Fame inductee David Hayes (54 wins), while Ricky Yiu (49), Caspar Fownes (49) and last season’s champion Francis Lui (46) trail the duo with only eight race meetings left to run in 2024/25.

Group 1 winner Beauty Eternal (132lb) secured his first top-three finish this season at the end of May for Size and tackles the HK$4.2 million G3 Premier Cup Handicap (1400m) under familiar ally Zac Purton in barrier four.

“He seems alright. He’s been in good shape. He ran a very nice race last start, albeit he had every chance and all the favours in the race, but he still ran well. I’m hoping he can repeat that,” Size said.

Beauty Eternal, winner of the 2023 Premier Cup, faces eight rivals: Victor The Winner (132lb), Invincible Sage (129lb), Happy Together (128lb), Patch Of Theta (128lb), Packing Hermod (126lb), Copartner Prance (122lb), Mugen (122lb) and Taj Dragon (120lb).

Ensued (129lb) and Bundle Award (115lb) represent Size in the HK$4.2 million G3 Premier Plate Handicap (1800m) against Straight Arron (135lb), Chancheng Glory (133lb), Beauty Joy (129lb), Sword Point (129lb), Moments In Time (128lb), Cap Ferrat (126lb), Pray For Mir (121lb), Nimble Nimbus (117lb), Californiatotality (115lb), Encountered (115lb), Winning Dragon (115lb) and Ka Ying Generation (115lb).

Ensued finish sixth in the HK$13 million G1 Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup (2400m) in May. The American-bred seeks a second Group 3 win, also uniting with Purton.

Size said: “He’s been very consistent and he’s done everything pretty well. He didn’t have much luck last start in the big race – the 2400 – apart from that he’s been healthy, sound and he looks good. I think he’s got another race in him and he’ll probably run well again.”

Bundle Award has proven incredibly versatile for owners Colin Lo and his wife, posting wins over 1400m, 1800m and 2400m through his debut Hong Kong season. The four-year-old captured last month’s HK$4.2 million G3 Queen Mother Memorial Cup Handicap (2400m) before finishing a fast-closing fifth in the Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup.

“He ran well (last start). He was going through the other horses and he probably might have got held up slightly, but he did run an honest race and he’s been very consistent. I think maybe the handicap will help him a fair bit on Sunday,” Size said.

“He’s rated 95 at the moment and that’s a good mark for a horse who has come in as a ‘PP’ (Previously Raced Horse). He’s done well and maybe he’ll improve next season, let’s hope he does.”

Size’s other representatives are Grand Nova, Escape Route, Young Legacy, Arden, Szeryng, Bundle Of Charm, Magnificent Nine and Super Express at Sha Tin.

Trainer Frankie Lor is eager to test Happy Together in the Premier Cup – his first assignment below 1600m since December, 2022. The six-time winner’s biggest success came in last season’s HK$4.2 million G3 January Cup Handicap (1800m) at Happy Valley.

“His form is good. Last time we took the hood off him over a mile. Alexis (Badel) told me he ‘was a bit keen all of the way’, so this time, we are bringing him back to 1400 metres, where the pace is usually a bit quicker, so maybe he’ll be more comfortable. Let’s see,” Lor said.

Sword Point represents Lor in the Premier Plate with Derek Leung from barrier seven.

“He looks a bit better. After coming back to Hong Kong from Dubai, his first trial, it wasn’t really like before, but his second trial was better. I know the dirt surface is better for him now than turf, but anyway we need to try again,” Lor said.

Lor, 59, is seeking a third win with emerging three-year-old South Star in the Class 3 Amethyst Handicap (1400m) with Andrea Atzeni engaged in barrier five.

“He’s a nice horse, he keeps improving. His sire Wrote is doing well in Hong Kong. South Star isn’t a big horse, but he’s running well,” Lor said.

Wrote has 22 wins in Hong Kong as a sire from 10 individual horses, headlined by Chill Chibi (six wins) and Fast Network (five).

Debut winner Voyage Boss faces a hotly contested Class 4 Diamond Handicap (1200m) from barrier 13 with Leung booked.

Lor said: “The field is quite strong this weekend. He will carry a big weight (134lb).”

Sunday’s (22 June) 11-race fixture at Sha Tin kicks off at 4pm with the Class 4 Ruby Handicap (1000m).