Van Niekerk has 12 wins to his name so far this season and sits fourth in the premiership behind last season’s dominant trio of Zac Purton, Joao Moreira and Karis Teetan.
“The season is going well but you can’t do it without the support. Any jockey in Hong Kong, as long as they have support, they’ll do well,” he said.
“But it comes down to the horse; if you get on the good horses you can make it work.”
While Van Niekerk is pleased to link up with Hot King Prawn, Size has no shortage of talent in Sunday’s G2 as three of his five chances are G1 winners, with the exception of Full Of Beauty and Hot King Prawn.
“They’re all quite exposed, we know what they’ve done in the past but reputations don’t win races they have to reproduce it this season to come up and compete with all of the others,” Size said.
“Beat The Clock seems normal, obviously he is older but his health, fitness and soundness seems the same way it was,” he added of the field’s highest-rated horse and two-time G1 winner.
The handler wasn’t overly enthused with Full Of Beauty drawing barrier 14.
“If he had gate 1 he might acquit himself a bit better, that’s a very awkward draw for him and he might have to get a trail or slot in somewhere further back in the field. If he goes forward he’s just going to get caught deep,” the handler said.
Size’s assault also includes the admirable but fragile D B Pin, who has finished runner-up in the last two renewals of the G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint, and past champion sprinter Ivictory.
“It’s a very interesting race,” Size added. “It’s a good contest and it’s a good mix of horses as recently in the last few years we’ve just had a small bunch of horses race against each other, but now they seem to come from everywhere for this race.”
The six-furlong contest sees nine opponents against Size’s five. Two-time LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint winner Mr Stunning (128lb) returns, Sha Tin 1000m track record holder Aethero (113lb) steps out, while the unbeaten Regency Legend (123lb) takes his place, as well as Pakistan Star (123lb), Little Giant (123lb), Thanks Forever (123lb) Wishful Thinker (123lb), Pingwu Spark (123lb) and Premiere (123lb).
The afternoon also features Hong Kong champion Beauty Generation in the G2 Jockey Club Mile (1600m), as well as the G2 Jockey Club Cup (2000m) in which champion stayer Exultant will take on the last two winners of the G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Cup (2000m), Time Warp and Glorious Forever.