John Size takes lead in trainers' premiership with Sha Tin four-timer

South China Morning Post

23-02-2025

John Size has surged to the top of the trainers' premiership with his first four-timer of 2025 at Sha Tin on Sunday.
While he was forced to settle for placings in both of the afternoon's Group Ones, Size enjoyed victories with Sky Jewellery, Crossborderpegasus, Juneau Pride and Brilliant Express.
The haul moved Size to 32 winners for the season and above David Hayes in the title race by virtue of having more seconds than his fellow Australian.
It was Hugh Bowman in the saddle for the wins of Sky Jewellery and debut winner Crossborderpegasus, with the jockey atoning for his luckless last-start defeat on Sky Jewellery to celebrate his 200th Hong Kong win aboard the promising youngster.
Super win, Sky Jewellery! 🚀
John Size's young gun secures a second victory to see @HugeBowman reach 200 career wins in Hong Kong... 🍾#LoveRacing | #HKracing pic.twitter.com/t1Wd05AdfI — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) February 23, 2025
The Australian ace made amends after Sky Jewellery was fourth as the $1.5 favourite at Happy Valley, when he was badly held up for clear running from the 250m to 100m.
Biding his time near the tail of the field, Sky Jewellery stormed home in the straight to run down South Star by a neck in the Class Four Citigold Private Client Handicap (1,400m).
'He was obviously unlucky last start and he's shown a lot of potential,' Bowman said of the three-year-old, who is already being touted as a 2026 Hong Kong Derby (2,000m) prospect.
'Up in distance today was fine but he had to overcome [barrier 13] and he did it in style.'
Bowman didn't have to wait long for his 201st victory in the city, with three-year-old Crossborderpegasus prevailing in the very next race, the Class Four Citigold Handicap (1,200m).
'He did enough to get home and that's the main thing. It was good,' Size said after Crossborderpegasus backed up his impressive trial form to beat fellow debutant Ahren by three-quarters of a length.
After Brenton Avdulla booted Juneau Pride home in the Class Three Citi Wealth Advisory Services Handicap (1,400m), Alexis Badel delivered the goods aboard Brilliant Express in the Class Three Citi Insurance Services Handicap (1,400m).
'He's starting to work it out and there seemed to be no competition for the front today, so it looked like they gifted it to him,' Size said after Brilliant Express led throughout to notch his second consecutive success.
John Size caps a treble! 🔥
The Master trainer wins his third race this afternoon as Juneau Pride is all out for victory with @brentonavdulla at Sha Tin...#LoveRacing | #HKracing pic.twitter.com/1cNarkMZmH — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) February 23, 2025
'Still, he did it and he's run some time, so we'll go forward confidently.'
Size confirmed Howdeepisyourlove will head to Dubai for the Group One Al Quoz Sprint (1,200m) down the Meydan straight on April 5.
'They ran well,' Size said after stablemates Helios Express, Howdeepisyourlove, Beauty Eternal and Red Lion filled the four spots behind Ka Ying Rising in the Group One Queen's Silver Jubilee Cup (1,400m).
'Those four horses seem to turn up all the time, but as is the case, we have dominant horses here in Hong Kong and they're expected to win and mostly they do.
'I think Howdeepisyourlove can go to Dubai. He looks OK for that.'
Avdulla and Badel joined Bowman with doubles on the day, with Avdulla also snaring the Class Four Citi Ultima Handicap (1,600m) aboard Mister Dapper and Badel taking out the Class Three Citi Investment Services Handicap (1,200m) atop Triumphant More.
Shinn works his Magic
A patient ride by Australian jockey Blake Shinn helped Magic Control score his third victory down the Sha Tin straight in the Class Two Citi Private Bank Handicap (1,000m).
Known for racing on the speed in his Hong Kong career so far, the Cody Mo Wai-kit-trained gelding settled second last under Shinn and launched a strong run down the centre of the track to easily account for James Tak by a length and a half.
Smart sprinter, Magic Control! 🔥@blake_shinn's on the board early at Sha Tin as Cody Mo's speedster roars to a third win in Hong Kong ahead of a quality Class 2 field... #LoveRacing | #HKracing pic.twitter.com/ETVm8JZ2CA — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) February 23, 2025
'That wasn't the plan to sit back but the speed was fast and he wanted to settle and with the weight [135 pounds], he needed all the favours and we had a good run and he displayed a great turn of foot,' Shinn said.
A Group Three winner when known as Archo Nacho in Australia pre-import, Magic Control added to his strong 1,000m record at Sha Tin which also includes seconds in the Group Three National Day Cup and Group Three Bauhinia Sprint Trophy.
Mo said the four-year-old would step back up to 1,200m in a Class One sprint on March 9, while the Group Two Sprint Cup (1,200m) on March 30 is another possible target.
Blowout victory leaves So smiling
Punters were reeling early at Sha Tin on Sunday as Carryon Smiling left his trainer Chris So Wai-yin grinning from ear to ear with a knockout victory at $84.7 in the second section of the Class Four Citi Wealth Handicap (1,400m).
The second-roughest winner of the season, Carryon Smiling broke his maiden at start six after an uninspiring start to his career.
Carryon Smiling kicked off a superb day of racing action at Sha Tin with a shock 83/1 victory in the opener under @kdemelo01! 👏#LoveRacing | #HKracing pic.twitter.com/t2NmMoyxGJ — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) February 23, 2025
'Well that was a big improvement,' said So after Carryon Smiling sliced through traffic from near the back of the field under Keagan de Melo.
'But for me, I thought he should run better. Two runs ago when he was sixth he was only beaten about three lengths and in his last trial you could see he was improving.
'Honestly, I think the horse needs further and he needs some equipment to help because Keagan said he is still very green.'
It wasn't all doom and gloom for punters, with the following eight favourites winning on the 10-race card.