Already the most successful trainer in Hong Kong horseracing history in terms of championships won with 12 titles, John Size is on the cusp of reaching another remarkable milestone at Sha Tin this Saturday when the master trainer bids to post his 1,500th winner in Hong Kong.
To put John’s impending landmark into context, only one other trainer has previously achieved the mark – John Moore, who saddled 1,735 winners – and, at 69 years of age, John continues to perform at stellar levels with both his outstanding development of horses and the staff who work for him.
After his trademark measured start to the season, John now sits mid-table in this season’s championship race and again shapes as a force to be reckoned with. Beyond his own extraordinary performance since arriving in Hong Kong in 2001/2002, John’s influence on Hong Kong’s training ranks has been profound – regardless of when he reaches the 1,500 win landmark.
Among his proteges to become trainers in their own right are Frankie Lor, the 2021/22 Hong Kong champion trainer, Pierre Ng and Benno Yung, evidence of John’s incredible ability to mould talent.
David Hall, who is in the throes of another strong season after recording a personal best of 44 last season, is also poised to reach the 600-win milestone in Hong Kong. David has proved to be a consistent performer since joining the Club in 2004/05 and I wish both him and John all the best of luck for the future.
Pierre has made a strong start to the season and leads the championship with 16 wins so far from Danny Shum (14), Francis Lui (13) and Frankie (13) – all home-grown horsemen who have benefited from exposure to elite expatriate trainers.
Pierre’s rise is evidence of the strength of the Club’s philosophy of developing Hong Kong talent with a comprehensive training programme, which provides a thorough grounding for aspiring horsemen. With the success of the local trainers over a number of seasons, the Club can feel proud of its work in providing career pathways for home-frown talent.
With a month until LONGINES Hong Kong International Races (HKIR), the focus on our flagship meeting continues to intensify at Sha Tin on Saturday with the running of the Class 1 Panasonic Cup Handicap (1400m), carded as Race 7 at 4:05pm.
The pace in the race should be moderate with SAUVESTRE the obvious leader drawn gate four, with CIRCUIT STELLAR settling on the pace from gate five. TUCHEL will settle in the forward half from his draw with RED LION and DANCING CODE just behind the leading group.
CIRCUIT STELLAR started favourite in this race last year when a close third to BELUGA. He resumed this season when second to HEALTHY HAPPY over this trip and then was fourth to California Spangle in the G2 Sha Tin Trophy Handicap over 1600m on 16 October when he faded in the last 100m. CIRCUIT STELLAR is remarkably consistent, comes back to his best trip 1400m here and with Zac Purton aboard is my win and place selection.
TUCHEL raced through the Four-Year-Old Classic Series last season, running second in both the Hong Kong Classic Mile and the BMW Hong Kong Derby and scored his first Group victory when winning the Premier Plate Handicap (1800m) in June. TUCHEL makes his seasonal reappearance here en route to HKIR Day on 10 December and, while he will take improvement from the run, is a place chance for Hugh Bowman.
John Size goes into this race double handed with TUCHEL and RED LION. The latter had an impressive first season of racing in Hong Kong, winning four races all over this course and distance. He is resuming here and looked good when winning a recent trial. Alexis Badel should have RED LION in a good position from his rails draw and he is a place chance.
There are only eight runners in this race but all of them possess high levels of ability and last start winner ATULLIBIGEAL and THE GOLDEN SCENERY both have chances.
The wild card runner is DANCING CODE, who has been impressive winning twice at HAPPY VALLEY in easier company and was an unlucky fifth behind ATULLIBIGEAL when he went back from a wide draw. DANCING CODE will settle closer from barrier three, has a light weight and will be running home strongly at the end of the race and is a place chance.
On Sunday, the G1 Queen Elizabeth II Cup (2200m) for fillies and mares from Kyoto Racecourse is the feature of our simulcast meeting with HKIR entrants GERALDINA, ART HOUSE, DIVINA and HARPER all leading chances in the race.
The race is carded as S1-6 and will be run at 2.40pm.
The race last year was run on yielding ground when GERALDINA scored her maiden Group One victory. Since running sixth to ROMANTIC WARRIOR in the FWD QEII Cup in Hong Kong in April, GERALDINA ran well to finish fourth to EQUINOX in the Takarazuka Kinen in June and last start was sixth behind ROUSHAM PARK in the Sankei Sho All Comers over this trip on 24 September. Back against her own sex, GERALDINA is my win and place selection with Ryan Moore taking the ride for the first time.
DIVINA ran well in the G1 Victoria Mile in May and stepped to 1800m at her last start to lead throughout and win at G2 level at Tokyo on 14 October. Mirco Demuro is her regular rider and will have DIVINA on pace and she is a place chance.
HARPER has been consistent in the classic races for three-year-old fillies running fourth in the Guineas, was runner up in the Oaks and then third in the Shuka Sho. All those races were won by the world’s best three-year-old filly, LIBERTY ISLAND. The connections of HARPER will be pleased they don’t have LIBERTY ISLAND to contend with here and HARPER is a place chance.
MARIA ELENA is an older mare who has been running well against the male division and most recently was fourth to LONGINES HKIR contestant ROUSHAM PARK in the G2 Sankei Sho All Comers on 24 September when she drew wide, finishing ahead of GERALDINA. On that run, MARIA ELENA is a place chance.
Of the other runners, LILAC dead-heated for second with WIN MARILYN in this race last year and wasn’t beaten far when third to DIVINA at her latest run at Group Two level over 1800m.
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